Welcome to our annual celebration of the best of food and drink in Scotland.

Every corner of the world is waking up to the fact that Scotland’s produce is without peer. The quality of our air, our water and our natural resources is the envy of the world and the passion, creativity and inventiveness of our people is driving the sector forward. There is no doubt that now is an exciting time to be involved in food and drink in Scotland.

2018 is also Scotland’s Year of Young People and what better opportunity to celebrate our talented and innovative young people than by shining a light on the impact and contribution they are making to our vibrant and diverse food and drink industry. An industry which continues to grow on a global scale.

Food and drink in Scotland is changing and it is now becoming more of an experience than ever before. With new and exciting restaurants, artisan cafes and food markets springing up as well as street food festivals and pop-ups breathing exciting new life into city and rural venues, this year’s Fortnight will celebrate the young talent driving the future of our food and drink experiences with flair and passion.

Our food and drink sector has been built on centuries of tradition so while embracing the new we will also continue to celebrate the old, particularly the young people working to keep the more traditional trades alive.

This year’s Fortnight will take place from 1-16 September and will have a fresh new look and feel. Our campaign for this year’s Fortnight is themed around the future of Scotland’s food and drink industry. It will be a platform to champion our talented young people and celebrate consumers, entrepreneurs, retailers, caterers and producers highlighting the fact that everyone has a part to play in ensuring its continued survival and growth. Essentially, we want to encourage more people than ever to buy, eat and promote Scottish food and drink. We have an amazing group of young ambassadors lined up to be the face of the campaign, from chefs and retailers to farmers and producers.

This pack will give you all you need to know about getting involved in this year’s Scottish Food & Drink Fortnight. However, it is just a starting point and we look forward to discussing creative ideas with you and supporting you in your efforts to put Scottish produce centre-stage this September.

Thank you,

James Withers
Chief Executive, Scotland Food & Drink