Food & Drink
Quality local food and drink is a critically important part of the South of Scotland’s visitor experience. As such, food and drink is one of the priorities in the Responsible Tourism Strategy, appearing in the strategic objective “Develop the visitor experience with a focus of quality”. Agritourism and Food & Drink is recognised as one of the region’s Growth and Development Hubs where we will build our reputation as a leading destination with outstanding local products.
We know from engagement with industry that food and drink is also a high priority within travel media, trade press and social influencers.
Scotland Food & Drink Legends
EIGHT trailblazing food and drink businesses, with an experience focus, are playing a starring role in a new promotional campaign delivered by the South of Scotland Destination Alliance (SSDA). The project was developed and designed around the ‘Scotland’s Larder’ series that ran for two years in The Scotsman, developed by leading Scottish food and drink writer Cat Thomson.
Thanks to support from the Regional Food Fund, the SSDA commissioned Cat Thomson and renowned photographer Phil Wilkinson to profile eight local ‘legends’ offering superb quality food and drink experiences in the South of Scotland. Their resulting portfolio of written profiles and high quality images is available for use by any publication, free of charge.
The quality local food and drink sector is a critically important part of the South of Scotland’s visitor experience, as well as a major employer, with hundreds of exemplary businesses – from restaurants and bars to specialist food producers – cooking up a storm for locals and visitors alike, right across the region.
The £6,000 project [of which £5,000 came from the Regional Food Fund, with £1,000 contributed by the SSDA] showcases eight local food and drink ‘legends’ and trailblazers who each represent different highlights of the region’s food and drink tourism experience, including recent winners of the first ever South of Scotland Thistle Awards.
Summary of outputs:
- We have held two food and drink Writers Guild Tours with a total of 15 attendees, one in Dumfries & Galloway, the other in the Scottish Borders. Each trip has generated blogs and social media traffic.
- A number of pieces in the press including two articles in The Scotsman and the Daily Record. We hope that over the coming months we’ll find the images and copy used for similar pieces.
Next steps include developing individual blog posts using the copy and images for each legend to appear on Scotland Starts Here accompanied by a social media campaign.
Images are available to download, accessible to Members from the SSDA Media Hub.
It goes without saying that we are incredibly grateful to Scotland Food and Drink for awarding SSDA with a £5K grant from the Regional Food Fund.
Online resources:
Abundant Borders
We need to talk about Food
SSDA are working with Abundant Borders, the NHS and Scottish Border Council in their work to develop a Regional Food Plan, specifically looking at the impact and opportunity that Agritourism, Local Produce and Hospitality provide.
The opportunities around a centralised, regional produce distribution network has been raised and further investigation is in progress.
Larder of the Lowlands
March 2024
In March Regional Food Groups and Ambassadors from Lanarkshire, East Lothian, Ayrshire & Arran, Dumfries & Galloway and the Scottish Borders joined forces to create an event to showcase the best the area had to offer to buyers from the retail sector, wholesalers and the food service industry.
Produce include everything from honey, beer, chocolate, cheese and meat of all varieties through to fish, gin, pickles and so much more highlighting the exceptional produce in the South of Scotland. SSDA attended and sponsored the event.
Food & Drink Multi Stakeholder Roundtable
Further strengthening the South of Scotland’s food and drink offering is a priority within the Responsible Tourism Strategy. On the 29th August 2024, the SSDA convened a roundtable meeting bringing together many of the organisations that are actively involved in supporting food and drink. Challenges, successes and opportunities were discussed and there was a board…
Stranraer Oyster Festival shortlisted in BBC Food and Farming Awards
BBC Food and Farming Awards 2024 finalists announced. Great to see Scottish companies across the board as well as those in the Scotland-specific category. Huge congratulations to Stranraer Oyster Festival who have been shortlisted! Read more here.
Scotland Food & Drink Case Study
‘Scotland Food & Drink Legends’ was one of the 22 projects across Scotland that was successful in the 2023/24 Regional Food Fund. Read the case study here.
Tourism Campaign Raises a Glass to Eight of the South of Scotland's Food and Drink Legends
The South of Scotland Destination Alliance is celebrating local excellence thanks to funding secured through Scotland Food & Drink’s Regional Food Fund EIGHT trailblazing food and drink businesses, with an experience focus, are playing a starring role in a new promotional campaign delivered by the South of Scotland Destination Alliance (SSDA). Thanks to support from…
