Scotland Office hosts ‘Taste of Scotland’ food and drink showcase

The UK Government’s annual ‘Taste of Scotland’ event was held on Tuesday 23 January, showcasing the best of Scotland’s food and drink.

Held at Dover House, the Scotland Office’s London headquarters, this year’s event featured 22 manufacturers and brands whose products are enjoyed at home and exported around the world.

Each had the chance to introduce their products to an influential audience of global diplomats and UK parliamentarians, helping to raise their profile and expand their worldwide market.

Scottish Secretary Alister Jack said:

The run up to Burns Night is a great time to celebrate Scotland’s iconic food and drink industry. Our reputation for being home to some of the world’s best produce is unrivalled.

Some fantastic businesses took part in Taste of Scotland this year. I want to encourage them, and others like them, to take advantage of all the UK Government offers to maximise their export potential. 

The new trade deals we’ve confirmed and are negotiating since Brexit are creating massive opportunities. I saw this myself during a recent trade visit to Vietnam, where sales of Scotch whisky have already increased fourfold.

We will continue to work on these new trade deals, to reduce trade barriers and open-up even more international markets to bring our amazing Scottish products to the world.

A varied selection of delicacies was available to sample at this year’s event. Newcomers include Broccoli Chips from Growers’ Garden and Panther M*lk oat milk liqueur, as featured on Dragons’ Den, and also a recipient of British Business Bank funding.

Innovate UK award-winner Two Raccoons eco-friendly wine had a stand, as did Isle of Harris Distillery gin and whisky, alongside gin from the Isle of Barra Distillers. For those who preferred something a little less strong, The Wee Tea Company based in Dunfermline put the kettle on.

Cheese was from Lactalis’ Orkney and Galloway Cheese companies and from Highland Fine Cheeses in Tain.

And no Scottish food showcase would be complete without fresh meat and fish, this year coming from Macduff Shellfish and Taste of Shetland Lamb and Salmon. Quality Meat Scotland also attended.

There was a presence too from some traditional favourites including Clootie McToot Dumplings, Stockan’s oatcakes, treats from Tunnock’s, AG Barr’s Irn Bru, Charles Macleod’s Stornoway black pudding, Macsween’s Haggis and Baxters’ jams, chutneys and soups.

DC Thomson & Co, publishers of the world-famous Beano, and luxury garment makers Walker Slater and Harris Tweed also featured.

Scotland’s international exports were over £31 billion in 2021, showing the demand across the globe that exists for Scottish goods and services. Continued increases in exports are the aim of the UK Government’s ambitious ‘Made in the UK, Sold to the World’ programme, which encourages firms to take advantage of the free advice offered at every step of their expansion.

New UK Government trade deals since Brexit are reducing trade barriers and opening up international markets to help further growth. New deals have been struck with Australia and New Zealand and the progress with the CPTPP trans-pacific trade bloc will bring huge opportunities.

The full list of exhibitors for this year’s event:

• Orkney and Galloway Cheese

• Charles Macleod Black Pudding, Stornoway

• Isle of Barra Distillers Gin

• Panther M*lk, Glasgow

• Two Raccoons Wine, Glasgow

• Tunnock’s, Uddingston, Lanarkshire

• Irn Bru

• Macduff Shellfish, Peterhead, Aberdeenshire.

• DC Thomson, Dundee

• Growers’ Garden Broccoli Crisps, Cupar, Fife.

• Clootie McToot Dumplings, Abernethy, Perthshire

• Macsween Haggis, Edinburgh

• Taste of Shetland

• Stockan’s Oatcakes, Orkney

• Harris Tweed & Walker Slater

• Baxters, Edinburgh

• The Wee Tea Company, Dunfermline, Fife

• Quality Meat Scotland, Edinburgh

• Isle of Harris Distillery

• Highland Fine Cheeses, Tain, Ross-shire