Glasgow hosts biggest Scottish food and drink promotion

What is believed to be Scotland’s biggest food and drink promotional event to date took place on April 22-24 in George Square, Glasgow, supported by Tesco.

A total of 100 Scottish suppliers - including Tennent’s, Allied Bakeries and Quaker Oats - attended the exhibition, which was visited by 21,000 people, plus a large number of the Tesco senior board.

“It gave them the chance to push non-Tesco lines to the public and senior Tesco personnel,” said a spokesman for Denvir, which was involved in the administration for the event.

Tesco is rolling out the idea and has already provisionally planned promotions for regional food and drink suppliers for later in the year. They are ‘Enjoy the Taste of Grampian’ in Aberdeen in June and ‘Enjoy the Taste of Northern Ireland’ in Belfast in the early autumn.

At the launch, Tesco chairman David Reid paid tribute to Scottish food, saying: “Through the generations the Scots have been recognised as innovators, as entrepreneurs and for their ability to adapt when required.

“Fortunately our food is well recognised for quality - think of Scotch whisky, shortbread and Scottish beef. However, we can see today that the range is far more extensive than those iconic products of Scotland and the Scottish attributes of entrepreneurs and innovators continue to thrive.”

Nicola Sturgeon, deputy first minister of Scotland, said: “Well done to Tesco for helping and supporting Scottish producers Scottish produce is a real boost to the economy and the environment, cutting down on air miles.”