Scotland Food & Drink Announces Finalists for Innovative Food Tourism Programme – Scottish Business News

The initiative, which aims to address the challenges faced by Scottish producers in making their offerings more discoverable and bookable, has garnered overwhelming interest from the industry.

Programme Highlights

Selected businesses will benefit from:

• Tailored workshops and expert-led training
• Networking opportunities
• One-on-one mentoring

The inaugural cohort represents a diverse cross-section of Scotland’s food and drink landscape, including:

• Mull Coffee Roastery
• Arbikie Distillery
• Buffalo Farm

Programme Details

Led by Scotland Food & Drink in collaboration with VisitScotland, the Scottish Government, and the Scottish Tourism Alliance, the programme is set to run from August 2024 to March 2025.

This initiative marks a significant step in positioning Scotland as a premier food tourism destination, capitalising on the country’s thriving tourism sector and unique culinary landscape.

Fiona Richmond, Head of Regional Food at Scotland Food & Drink, commented: “We are absolutely thrilled with the overwhelming response from businesses across Scotland.

“The level of interest truly highlights how integral food and drink tourism is to the future of our local businesses.

“This programme is designed to provide them with the tools, training, and confidence to enhance their offerings, reach new audiences, and help build Scotland’s reputation as a must-visit destination for food and drink lovers.”

Speaking on the value of the programme, Sally Swinbanks from Tobermory Fish, added: “This is an invaluable opportunity for us to not only develop our offerings but also to connect with like-minded businesses and share ideas.

“As Scotland continues to grow as a tourism hotspot, both domestically and internationally, it’s crucial that we understand how to tailor our services to meet the needs and expectations of visitors, particularly in the food and drink sector.”