Asda announced as head sponsor for Scotland Food & Drink's Excellence Summit

Asda, one of the UK's leading supermarket chains, has been unveiled as the head sponsor for Scotland Food & Drink's inaugural Excellence Summit, set to take place on 9 October. 

The Excellence Summit, a first-of-its-kind event, combines the previously separate annual industry conference and Scotland Food & Drink Excellence Awards, offering all who work in or are associated with the food and drink industry a full day and evening of networking, insights, and celebrations.  

Championing the nations producers, Asda has been a headline sponsor of the Excellence Awards for over a decade, with this new event marking an exciting evolution, and demonstrating the supermarket’s unwavering commitment to the Scottish food and drink industry. 

Commenting on the sponsorship, Polly Jones, Asda’s Head of Scottish Corporate Affairs, said: "We are thrilled to continue our long-standing partnership with Scotland Food & Drink with the headline sponsorship for their first Excellence Summit. At Asda, we are proud to foster strong relationships with our Scottish suppliers and promote sustainable growth within the food and drink industry.   

“This event provides an excellent platform for us to engage with innovative businesses, share insights, and celebrate the exceptional products and practices that make Scotland's food and drink sector truly world-class."  

Held at the Double Tree Hilton in Glasgow, the day-time itinerary of key-note speeches, break-outs and panel discussions will allow businesses to engage with dynamic leaders in the sector, covering economic insights, innovation, consumer trends, sustainability, branding, and growth strategies. 

The Excellence Awards have been the highest accolades in the industry for more than 20 years, and this year will comprise of 14 tasted awards and seven business categories. All products entered into tasted categories are sampled and assessed by an expert judging panel that includes buyers from major retailers, wholesalers and foodservice, as well as journalists and independent venue operators.  

Iain Baxter, Chief Executive of Scotland Food & Drink, expressed his enthusiasm for Asda’s continued support, stating: “We are pleased to welcome Asda as the headline sponsor of this exciting new event which brings together Scottish food and drink businesses of all sizes to celebrate our sector and learn valuable and actionable insights to grow their businesses sustainably. 

“Our industry plays a vital role in the Scottish economy and is a key contributor to our nation's ambitious net zero targets. With Asda's backing, we can continue to showcase the exceptional talent, innovation, and sustainability efforts of our producers, while inspiring others to join us on this journey towards a more sustainable future." 

Businesses have until 19 June to enter the Excellence Awards, and early bird tickets for the full summit, conference, or awards will be available at a discounted rate from today (22 May). 

For more information about the Excellence Summit and to secure your spot, visit https://foodanddrink.scot/events-and-membership/events/the-excellence-summit/.