Lowlands produce to be championed at meet the buyer event
Showcasing the Larder of the Lowlands aims to create a bustling and supportive environment for local producers to meet a wide range of buyers, from local to major names.
More than 50 of the Lowland’s food and drink producers will be showcasing their products at this innovative regional industry event at Easterbrook Hall, Dumfries, on Monday 17th April. Showcasing the Larder of the Lowlands aims to create a bustling and supportive environment for local producers to meet a wide range of buyers, from local to major names.
The ethos of the event is all about supporting local, keeping sustainability at the forefront of regional food development. Spending locally and using local suppliers helps to ensure that produce contributes to local economies, creating jobs and supporting prosperity in communities, reducing food miles along the way.
Designed to build relationships with buyers, introduce them to new products and secure future business, the Sourcing Scotland Regional event will be delivered by Regional Food Groups (RFGs) and Regional Food Tourism Ambassadors, from the Scottish Borders, Dumfries & Galloway, Lanarkshire, Ayrshire, Arran, and East Lothian, supported by the Scotland Food & Drink Partnership.
The event will provide a platform for a diverse range of producers from across the Lowlands, including Blackthorn Salt, Belhaven Smokehouse, The Borders Distillery, Arran Dairies, Galloway Chillis, and MacDuff Beef to showcase their produce.
As well as providing an opportunity for producers and buyers to connect, the event will host cookery demonstrations from chefs across the Lowlands region, and an industry and destination information point. Cookery demonstrations will entail a ‘Ready Steady Cook’ theme using the incredible ingredients in the room from producers across the Lowlands. Chefs include National Chef of the Year finalist and Head Chef at the Borders’ Cringletie House Hotel, Iain Gourlay, and David Jamieson, who is Estate Head Chef at East Lothian’s Archerfield, as well as a Regional Food Tourism Ambassador for East Lothian.
Local, regional, and national buyers from Scotland as well as the North of England and Northern Ireland are invited to taste and experience the exceptional produce from the Lowlands larder. Scotland Food & Drink Partnership will be supporting the event, with the goal of increasing local food on local plates. Its Sourcing Scotland Regional programme is new to 2023, bringing together suppliers with buyers from retail, wholesale, and foodservice to help grow the sales of Scottish products.
Fiona Richmond, Head of Regional Food at Scotland Food & Drink, said: “For some time we have seen the public grow increasingly aware of where their food and drink is coming from, and buyers need to meet the demand for local products. Events such as the one in Dumfries play an important role in bringing producers and buyers together to build relationships and create sales, and we are delighted to be able to facilitate those conversations.”
On behalf of the event delivery group Jemma Reid, Regional Food Ambassador for the South of Scotland, said: “Regional food and drink events like Showcasing the Larder of the Lowlands enables producers to connect with new buyers, stimulates collaboration and supports supply chain and distribution regionally and further afield. This event is for anyone who serves or sells food and drink, whether you are a wholesaler, retailer, operate in foodservice, tourism or hospitality and anything in between.
“We are encouraging buyers to attend the event on the 17th April to grow their Scottish food and drink offering, while finding out more about the vast and incredible range of suppliers the Scottish Lowlands has to offer.”
To register for free please visit the event website page www.larderofthelowlands.co.uk
