Scottish Produce on Show in Cologne

The very best of Scotland's food and drink offerings will be showcased at the world's largest food and drink trade fair in Cologne today.

Rural Affairs Secretary Richard Lochhead will visit the Anuga Food Fair in Cologne to support a record number of Scottish exhibitors, hot on the heels of record food export figures of £1 billion - an increase of 14 per cent.

Germany itself is the biggest European growth market for Scottish produce, with food exports up 27 per cent.

Mr Lochhead said: "Promoting local food at home and premium food abroad means we can get the message about Scotland's fine food across to the widest possible audience.

"I'm delighted to see such a great turnout of Scottish food and drink producers since my last visit to Anuga two years ago.

"It's great to be back in Germany which is the biggest European growth market for Scottish produce, with fish and shellfish and dairy and eggs being the two biggest areas for Scottish exports.

"The record number of exhibitors showcasing their quality products at the world's largest food and drink trade show cements our place on the international stage and gives a clear signal that Scotland's food and drink industry is doing business on a global scale.

"From small artisan producers such as cheesemakers Connage Highland Dairy, craft baker Reids of Caithness and Scotland's only commercial cider producer, Thistly Cross to global brands such as Baxters, Scotch Beef and Lamb, and award-winning smoked salmon from Loch Duart, the very finest of what Scotland has on offer is right here and accessible to an international market.

"Our food and drink sector is a real success story, with food exports recently breaking the £1 billion mark and whisky shipments up 22 per cent in the first six months of this year.

"Scotland's fish and shellfish exports make up around half of the UK's total exports - we are the world's largest catcher of langoustine, exports of Scottish salmon increased by 20 per cent last year while sales of Scotch beef and lamb continue to flourish and are now worth around £100 million per year, all demonstrating the importance of this sector to Scotland's economy to as a whole.

"With everything that Scotland has to offer - a wonderful natural larder, a clean environment and passionate producers who are 100 per cent committed to creating fantastic world-class products - we can rightly claim to be one of the greatest land's of food and drink in the world."

The delegation of Scottish companies to Anuga is being led by Scottish Development International in partnership with industry leadership organisation, Scotland Food & Drink.

Companies exhibiting at the fair will form part of the overall Scotland pavilion, under the banner of 'Scotland, A Land of Food and Drink'.

Chief executive of Scottish Development International, Anne MacColl, said: "Scotland is home to some of the most highly-acclaimed food and drink brands in the world and, with food and drink exports hitting a record high recently, we know that there is global interest in our Scottish produce.

"As one of the top food and drink shows in the world, Anuga provides a fantastic opportunity to fly the flag for Scottish produce, and for Scottish food and drink companies - both those new to exporting and those already with an international track record - to explore new markets.

"We are thrilled to be leading this delegation of companies to Anuga, where they will have the opportunity to present their wares to influential international buyers, and we continue to work hard to sell this industry internationally, based on the quality, health and provenance of our produce."

During his time in Cologne, Mr Lochhead has also met with Arlene Foster, Northern Ireland Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Investment to welcome the agreement between Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) and Invest NI to share resources at key international events such as Anuga.

Anuga is the largest food and beverage fair in the world. It is also the food and drink sector's most important fair for new markets and target groups.

The event is held every two years in Cologne. The show has over 6,500 exhibitors and around 150,000 trade visitors and almost 300,000 m2 of inspiration, ideas and innovations.

HMRC Export Figures published in 2011 showed food exports from Scotland broke the £1 billion mark for the first time, increasing by 14 per cent during 2010. Food and drink exports combined rose by 11 per cent to an all-time high of £4.5 billion.

• The fastest growing European market for Scottish food products is Germany (up 27 per cent) and food and drink Poland (up 62.2 per cent). The two biggest areas for Scottish exports to Germany are fish and shellfish (43 per cent of total Scottish food exports to Germany) and dairy products and eggs (27 per cent)
• Exports of Scottish fish and shellfish account for around half (48 per cent) of the UK total export
• Scotch lamb exports increased in value by around 25 per cent in 2010 compared with the previous year, totalling £40 million, up £10 million on 2009

Scottish Development International (SDI) is hosting a pavilion in the Fine Food Hall at ANUGA. There are four exhibiting companies: Baxters, Mackays Ltd, Macphie of Glenbervie and Thistly Cross Cider Company.

Also exhibiting at Anuga are Quality Meat Scotland and Walkers Shortbread.

SDI is also leading 15 companies through the Learning Journey looking specifically at the German market and what opportunities it could offer Scottish food and drink producers.

They include:

• Browns Food Group
• Connage Highland Dairy
• The Deeside Smokehouse
• Go CoCo
• Hebridean Smokehouse
• Inverawe Smokehouse
• Loch Duart salmon
• Macleans Highland Bakery
• Macsween of Edinburgh
• Reids of Caithness (Bakery)
• Renshawnapier (high-quality food ingredients)
• SEPHRA (chocolate fountains)
• Stoats Porridge Bars
• Tio Ltd (organic root vegetables)

Interested in exploring export markets? You'll find free help and advice in Scotland Food & Drink's 'How Do I...' Guides.