84% of Scots Want To Buy More Scottish Food and Drink Products

As Scottish Food & Drink September returns for 2026, exclusive data from Scotland Food & Drink’s insights hub reveals encouraging support for domestic producers. 

Data on UK shopping preferences from The Knowledge Bank, Scotland Food & Drink’s insight hub, shows that more than eight in 10 (84%) Scots want to buy more Scottish food and drink products. The research also reinforced Scottish food and drink credentials beyond the border, with 56% of shoppers in the rest of the UK looking to buy more Scottish food and drink. This demand is especially strong in London, with a particularly strong desire amongst more affluent social grades, and people aged 25 to 44.

The findings come as Scottish Food & Drink September returns for its 17th year with a month-long celebration of Scotland’s world-class food and drink.  Originally set up by Scotland Food & Drink as a fortnight to celebrate the sector, the month-long campaign encourages food and drink businesses to showcase all that’s great and good about Scottish producers, which collectively contributes to the £19 billion sector.

Launching this year’s campaign, Scotland Food & Drink CEO, Iain Baxter, visited Heather Hills Farm to hear the stories behind the family-run business’s honey production.

The Perthshire farm, run by Managing Director Mark Noonan, has been producing 100% pure Scottish honey since 1945. The rolling heather hills of the local landscape, which give the farm its name, plays an important role in the taste and flavour inside every jar. The business operates 500 hives, housing 20 million hard-working bees, and uses traditional collection and extraction methods to keep the honey as nature intended.

The award-winning honeys are then bottled by hand into their uniquely designed, proprietary glass jars ribbed and shaped like a skep – an old-fashioned beehive, traditionally woven from wicker, or straw.

Mark Noonan said: “We like to think of our heather honey as the champagne of honeys. Like wine production, honey’s quality and flavour profile is directly related to the land and flora from which it is sourced.

"We’re blessed to be in this beautiful area of Scotland where heather abounds naturally. Our landscape gives us a natural advantage to make the premium and delicious product range for our customers.”

Iain Baxter, CEO of Scotland Food & Drink, said: “Mark and the team at Heather Hills embody everything that Scottish Food & Drink September is about. Deeply rooted in the Scottish landscape that surrounds them and the environment that gives Scotland a competitive edge in producing high-quality food and drink products.

“Heather Hills has an amazing story to tell, and the evidence shows that brands that champion their Scottish provenance are being sought after by consumers. So, communicating those stories effectively, particularly during this celebratory month, is a win-win for producers and buyers alike.”

Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Stephen Flynn, said: "Scottish Food & Drink September celebrates the people and passion behind our world-class food and drink. This month is about championing our natural larder, backing local producers and sharing the stories that shape the sector.

“I’m proud of Scotland’s food and drink industry which is creating jobs, boosting local economies, and putting Scottish produce on plates at home and around the world.”

To find more information on the campaign and how to support Scottish food and drink near you here: foodanddrink.scot/events-and-membership/scottish-food-drink-september