Scottish Wholesale Association, in collaboration with the National Farmers' Union of Scotland (NFU Scotland) have brought together leaders from across Scotland's food, farming, hospitality and tourism sectors to identify opportunities to increase the sourcing of Scottish produce and strengthen links throughout the supply chain.
The joint roundtable, Serving Scotland: Unlocking Scottish Food in Hospitality & Tourism, was hosted by the two organisations, and highlighted the pressures across the supply chain including rising costs, labour shortages and regulatory burdens, while stressing the strong consumer demand for high-quality Scottish produce and the importance of strengthening local sourcing and supply chain collaboration.
The event builds on SWA's ongoing work to increase local sourcing through initiatives such as Delivering Growth Through Wholesale and the Wholesale Local Food Champion programmes. It also forms part of NFU Scotland's ongoing work to improve market returns for farmers and crofters by strengthening domestic supply chains and creating new opportunities for Scottish produce.
With Scotland's hospitality sector generating almost £2 billion in economic activity and around one-third of Scots' calories consumed out of home, participants agreed that increasing Scottish sourcing presents a significant opportunity for producers, wholesalers, hospitality businesses and consumers alike.
Representatives from the trade bodies representing farming, hospitality, tourism, wholesale and food organisations discussed the opportunities and challenges associated with sourcing more Scottish produce, including availability, specification, seasonality, consistency and pricing.
A key outcome from the discussion was a shared commitment to continue working collaboratively on a unified approach to government engagement support for Scottish producers, and clearer communication of the economic and cultural value of Scotland’s food and drink sector. There is also an appetite to better understand current sourcing levels, identify barriers to greater Scottish procurement and develop practical actions that will help more Scottish food reach menus across the country.
SWA Chief Executive Colin Smith said:
"Wholesalers play a vital role in connecting Scotland’s producers with customers across retail, hospitality, tourism and the public sector.
Through programmes such as Delivering Growth Through Wholesale and our Wholesale Local Food Champion initiative, we have seen how practical support and stronger relationships can help more Scottish produce reach market.
"There is good work already happening across retail, and we want to build on that by helping unlock similar opportunities in hospitality and tourism. This roundtable was an important first step in understanding the barriers and identifying practical, commercially realistic ways to get more Scottish food onto menus across the country."
NFU Scotland Chief Executive John Davidson said:
"One of NFU Scotland's key priorities is improving market opportunities and returns for our members. Scottish farmers and crofters produce food to some of the highest standards anywhere in the world, but we need strong domestic supply chains and committed customers if we are to realise the full value of that produce.
"Bringing together producers, wholesalers, hospitality businesses and tourism organisations is an important step in building a better understanding of the challenges and opportunities that exist across the supply chain. Today's discussion demonstrated a genuine willingness to work together to support Scottish sourcing and create long-term opportunities for Scottish agriculture."
Attendees included representatives from the Scottish Licensed Trade Association, Scottish Hospitality Group, UK Hospitality Scotland, Scottish Beer and Pub Association, Scottish Tourism Alliance, Scotland Food & Drink, Quality Meat Scotland, and SAOS.
The roundtable was intended as the start of a wider conversation, with NFU Scotland and the Scottish Wholesale Association keen to engage additional businesses, sector bodies and supply chain partners as the work develops.
NFU Scotland and the Scottish Wholesale Association will now work with attendees to explore next steps, including building a clearer picture of current sourcing practices and identifying opportunities to increase the amount of Scottish food and drink served across Scotland's hospitality and tourism sector.
