Bidfood Scotland
Championing Scottish food and drink is at the heart of Bidfood Scotland. Working with more than 100 Scottish suppliers and offering over 700 locally sourced products, the business connects producers with customers across the hospitality and foodservice sector.
In this Q&A, Stephanie Johnstone, Regional Sourcing Manager – Scotland, shares her thoughts on supporting local producers, championing Scottish provenance and the opportunities shaping the future of Scotland’s food and drink industry.
Scottish Food & Drink September 2026
Can you tell us about Bidfood Scotland and the role it plays in connecting Scottish food and drink producers with customers across the hospitality and foodservice sector?
Our role is to connect Scotland’s food and drink producers with customers across the hospitality and foodservice sector, helping local businesses grow while giving customers access to high-quality Scottish products.
We do this through a multi-channel approach that brings Scottish producers and their stories to life. From our annual trade show, regional showcase events and chef-led demonstrations to social media, our Scottish brochure, website and Bidfood Direct platform, we create opportunities for customers to discover, engage with and purchase local products.
Together, these initiatives keep Scottish provenance at the heart of our proposition, creating meaningful connections between producers and customers across Scotland and beyond.
Bidfood Scotland works with more than 100 Scottish suppliers and offers a range of over 700 locally sourced products. How do you identify and develop relationships with the producers you want to bring into your range?
Building strong relationships with Scottish producers is at the heart of what we do. We identify potential suppliers through industry networks, events, trade associations and direct engagement, focusing on businesses that offer high-quality products, strong provenance and a compelling story.
When assessing new suppliers, we look beyond the product itself, considering customer demand, route to market, operational capability and long-term commercial viability. We work closely with producers, particularly SMEs that may be new to wholesale, helping them navigate technical requirements, logistics, packaging and distribution.
Our approach is partnership-driven and focused on long-term success. Through regular engagement, promotional opportunities, customer introductions and market insight, we help Scottish producers grow sustainably and realise their potential within the hospitality and foodservice sector.
Can you share an example of a Scottish supplier or product that has had a particularly successful journey with Bidfood, and explain what helped make that partnership work?
Jump Ship Brewing is a great example of a successful partnership between Bidfood Scotland and a local producer. Following an introduction at a Scotland Food & Drink showcase event, we worked closely together to understand the opportunity and develop the right launch strategy. Since listing, the range has gained strong traction across a wide range of customers, supported by the growing demand for no and low alcohol options. The success demonstrates the value of combining a great product with the right market insight, customer understanding and long-term partnership approach.
What do you think are the biggest opportunities for Scotland's smaller and artisan food and drink producers over the next few years, and where can a business like Bidfood help unlock those opportunities?
I believe the biggest opportunity for Scotland's smaller and artisan producers lies in creating high-quality products with strong provenance and authentic stories that resonate with customers. While trends evolve, there will always be demand for products that offer something distinctive and add value.
The key challenge is not securing a listing but building a sustainable route to market. Success requires an understanding of customer needs, operational capability and long-term growth planning.
This is where Bidfood can help. We provide market insight, customer feedback and category expertise, helping suppliers understand where their products fit and how to succeed in foodservice. By offering the right guidance and support from the outset, we help producers build strong foundations for sustainable, long-term growth.
Looking ahead, what would you like Bidfood's contribution to the Scottish food and drink industry to be?
We want Bidfood Scotland to be recognised as a leading partner for Scottish food and drink producers, helping businesses of all sizes grow sustainably through market insight, customer access and ongoing support. By championing Scottish provenance and creating opportunities across foodservice, we hope to make a meaningful contribution to the future success of Scotland's food and drink industry.
