Here is the first news update for the week: Scottish food and drink:
Scotland ltd report from Grant Thornton
New research from Grant Thornton has highlighted the strength of Scotland’s food, drink and leisure sector. 21 companies feature in a list of the country’s top 100 limited businesses. The findings also reveal that the sector is the top performing by profitability. The full report (complete with lovely infographics) is available here.
Enter the Food and Drink Federation Awards 2015 today
Entries are now open for the food and drink awards run by industry for industry. The Food and Drink Federation Awards offers companies the chance to gain national recognition for their achievements across the largest manufacturing sector in the UK.
Next #ScotFood questions announced!
The first chat of 2015 will take place on 5th January, between 9-10pm, and will be discussing ‘traditional foods’. 2015 has been designated as the year of food and drink, and each month the #ScotFood chats will reflect the various themes throughout the year (find out more about the monthly themes here).
University food and drink centre launched at QMU
The first Scottish Centre for Food Development and Innovation based at QMU has been called a milestone for Scotland’s booming food and drink industry, which has been hailed by the Scottish Government as a national priority and key area for growth.
High spirits as festival organisers unveil major re-brand
Inverness is set to play host to Scotland’s first festival of whisky and gin in 2015, it has been revealed. Organisers of the Inverness Whisky Festival have unveiled a major re-brand for the iconic Highland event, which will now be known as ‘Nip’. The event will be run from 7th – 11th April 2015.
Skills partnership – farming and the next generation
Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park Skills Partnership is holding an event that will offer farmers the opportunity to have their say on current farming issues, particularly the topic of skills and the next generation.
Sales of Scottish mussels set to soar this Christmas
Growing demand from households looking for something a bit different looks set to deliver a buoyant Christmas for Scotland’s shellfish farmers. The Scottish Shellfish Marketing Group is predicting that sales of both fresh mussels and supermarket ready meal mussel dishes will surge in the run-up to Christmas, with the volumes sold increasing by around a third above normal levels. Oyster sales are expected to rise by a similar amount too.
Producer confidence bolstered as lamb prices nudge upwards
The continued slow rise in prime lamb prices over the past month has now resulted in farm gate prices very similar to, and in some cases slightly ahead of, last year, according to the latest analysis by Quality Meat Scotland.
One in five ‘still hoarding food and drink from last Christmas’
Nearly two-thirds of people admit to buying too many Christmas trimmings, while 19% said they store their excess jars, packets, bottles and tins for more than 12 months, suggests research by Nationwide Building Society.