Listed - Issue 1 - June 22 by 55 North

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THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF THE SCOTTISH RETAIL FOOD & DRINK AWARDS

HELPING TO G E T M O R SCOT TISH E PRODUC TS O M O R E S CO T T N TO IS SHELVES H

LOCAL HEROES! SRFDA 2022 WINNERS UNVEILED IN GLASGOW FULL LISTINGS INSIDE

WHAT DOES THE HARRODS BUYER LOOK FOR?

Former head of buying at Harrods and Selfridges reveals his secrets

Spar Scotland boss talks local sourcing Lunun: the making of a Platinum-winning gin The surprising benefits of local sourcing The rise and rise of ethical retailing

JUNE 2022 ISSUE 1

CONTENTS MONTH YEAR

CONTENTS 6 12

NEWS DIGEST

SRFDA WINNERS 2022!

A round-up of the some of the latest news from around the industry.

A full list of the winners from this year’s Scottish Retail Food & Drink Awards.

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WHAT DOES THE HARRODS BUYER LOOK FOR IN A PRODUCT?

THE MAKING OF A PLATINUM-WINNING GIN

Bruce Langlands, SRFDA Ambassador and former head of food and drink at both Harrods and Selfridges, shares his secrets.

Renowned chef and spirits producer Dean Banks talks us through the making of his Platinum Award-winning Lunun Gin.

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WHY LOCAL PRODUCTS MATTER

THE SURPRISING BENEFITS OF WORKING WITH LOCAL PRODUCERS

Jim Eccleston of 56 Degree Insight offers a research-based view of why local products are so important to the Scottish market.

Leading convenience retailer and SGF President Dan Brown unveils some unexpected benefits from working with local producers.

FIVE MINUTES WITH.... COLIN MCLEAN

The Spar Scotland boss discusses why Scottish products are so vital to his business.

SHOUT ABOUT IT!

SRFDAs official PR partner offers some top tips on using your SRFDA Award win to generate publicity.

IN THE HEADLINES

A look back at print and digital media coverage of the SRFDAs and our award winners.

EDITORIAL PUBLISHING DIRECTOR Antony Begley abegley@55north.com EDITOR Elena Dimama edimama@55north.com WEB EDITOR Findlay Stein fstein@55north.com

ADVERTISING SALES & MARKETING DIRECTOR Helen Lyons hlyons@55north.com

DESIGN DESIGN & DIGITAL MANAGER Richard Chaudhry rchaudhry@55north.com DESIGNER Wesley Stephens wstephens@55north.com

EVENTS & OPERATIONS EVENTS & CIRCULATION MANAGER Cara Begley

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WELCOME ANTONY BEGLEY & HELEN LYONS

WELCOME A very warm welcome to the very first issue of our new Scottish Retail Food & Drink Awards magazine. We will produce Listed in digital format on a monthly basis to help us grow our reach and engagement with our SRFDA stakeholders. As the most inclusive Awards programme in this sector, we have a very broad church of stakeholders from the smallest retailers and producers through to the largest, as well as the rest of the supply chain, including wholesalers, industry bodies and influencers. We like to think that we can bring the entire industry together for the benefit of all. Our goal, as it always has been and always will be, is to get more of Scotland’s fantastic food and drink products onto more Scottish retail shelves. The SRFDAs are at heart commercial, results-driven awards. We aim to introduce more retailers to more of Scotland’s food and drink products and help more producers secure listings. Hence the name of the magazine. We work year-round with many stakeholders to help them achieve their aims, whether that’s simply by way of bringing people with shared interests together, helping producers get in front of the right retail buyers, or simply sharing relevant news and information through our various print, digital and social channels. Listed is the latest evolution of our model and allows us to carry more news, information, advice and comment. So if you have anything you want to share with the sector, please feel free to send it to Listed editor Elena Dimama at edimama@55north.com At this point, I’d also like to say a huge congratulations to all of our finalists and winners this year. And behind every fascinating product is an equally fascinating backstory. Listed gives us the opportunity to share more of those backstories more often. So make sure you register to receive Listed in your inbox every month. Just drop a line to events@55north.com and we’ll make sure you receive the magazine every month. We hope you enjoy the new magazine and do let us know what you think. ANTONY BEGLEY & HELEN LYONS Directors, SRFDA

DISCLAIMER All text and layout is the copyright of SRFDA Ltd. Nothing in this magazine may be reproduced in whole or part without the written permission of the publisher. All copyrights are recognised and used specifically for the purpose of criticism and review. Although the magazine has endevoured to ensure all information is correct at time of print, prices and availability may change. This magazine is fully independent and not affiliated in any way with the companies mentioned herein. Listed is produced monthly by SRFDA Ltd.

NEWS INDUSTRY NEWS

MARKET RESEARCH National Museums Scotland acquires whisky collection National Museums Scotland has acquired a selection of bottled whiskies, packaging and related material ahead of World Whisky Day on Saturday, 21st May. The move aims to reflect the period of growth and “reinvention” of the whisky industry in the 21st century, providing “an insight into one of our leading industries but reveal a picture of Scotland in the early 21st century that will now be preserved for generations to come”, according to Laura Scobie, Doctoral Researcher at the University of Edinburgh and National Museums Scotland. ScottishPower in hydrogen deal to provide green heat to distillers ScottishPower has formed a partnership with green infrastructure technology provider Storegga to build the Cromarty Hydrogen Project and help distillers decarbonize their production processes.

TOP SCOTTISH BRANDS REVEALED IN LATEST REPORT Food and drink in Scotland is worth £10.3bn, Kantar has found

Irn Bru, Graham’s Family Dairy, Tunnock’s, Bell’s Food Group and Mackie’s of Scotland are in the top five most chosen Scottish brands, according to Kantar Worldpanel’s latest Brand Footprint report. The value of food and drink in Scotland for the grocery channel is £10.3bn, the analyst said, up 11% versus prepandemic levels. Looking at Scotland’s top 20 brands overall, Warburtons has retained its

crown as both Britain and Scotland’s most chosen brand and is in the list of brands that make up Scotland’s top six for the last five years. It’s followed by Heinz, Coca-Cola, McVitie’s and Hovis; both Warburtons and Heinz occupied the same first and second positions over the past five years. Only three Scottish brands made it to the top 20 – Graham’s Family Dairy, Irn Bru, and Tunnock’s.

GOVERNMENT FUNDING

£10M FUNDING FOR SCOTTISH FOOD AND DRINK PRODUCERS The Scottish Government is inviting Scottish food and drink suppliers to apply for the latest funding round as part of the annual Food Processing, Marketing and Cooperation Grant Scheme (FPMC). A total of £10.2 million is available in this financial year to support initiatives that will safeguard jobs and increase efficiency within the sector.

economy. This includes shortening supply chains, increased use of local produce and markets and benefits to the wider local economy.

Applicants to the scheme will be asked to demonstrate the benefits their project will provide to the local

Businesses will also be asked to outline the ways their projects will contribute to net zero.

NEWS INDUSTRY NEWS

WHOLESALE

SCOTTISH WHOLESALE ASSOCIATION JOINS ZERO EMISSION TRUCK TASKFORCE “It’s our job to help members cut through the myriad information available guide them on the right path to decarbonise their businesses,” SWA said

The Scottish Wholesale Association (SWA) has been invited to join Scotland’s new Zero Emission Truck Taskforce in recognition of its ongoing work with members as part of its ‘Decarbonisation of the Wholesale Industry’ project. The taskforce comprises industry leaders from the road haulage, logistics, manufacturing, energy, and finance sectors who will work in partnership to identify and co-design creative and practical solutions to maximising opportunities.

SUSTAINABILITY

CIRCULARITY SCOTLAND SECURES £9M ‘DRS’ INVESTMENT The Scottish National Investment Bank has committed £9m to fund the development of Circularity Scotland, which will administer the country’s deposit return scheme (DRS). The Bank’s investment was key to securing an additional £9m capital from Bank of Scotland. Together the investments will fund the start-up costs of the DRS, which will go live in August 2023.

Scottish FA partners with M&S Food to promote healthy eating The Scottish FA and M&S Food teamed up to help families make healthier eating choices as part of M&S Food’s “Eat Well, Play Well” campaign. In what was described as a first of its kind partnership, the multiyear-deal sees M&S Food, the Scottish FA and the Scotland National Teams shining a light on what players eat to help inspire families eat healthier this summer and beyond. By using the influence of Scottish footballing heroes, the partners also aim to show that healthy and balanced food “can be fun and tasty”.

NEWS PRODUCT NEWS

RTDS

DOUGLAS LAING UNVEILS ITS FIRST READY-TO-DRINK RANGE

The new product will be available exclusively in the UK

Douglas Laing & Co has revealed its first ready-to-drink whisky and tonic can.

Aldi Scotland introduces fresh flavour in own-brand gin Aldi Scotland is adding to its range of own-brand premium gin, with the addition of the new Toradh (pronounced Torig) Seville Orange Flavour Gin. Hitting shelves across all 102 Aldi Scotland stores, it is the latest Scottish gin to be offered by the supermarket selling for just £14.99 for a 70cl bottle. The new addition to the Toradh range boasts notes of lemongrass and orange. The Seville Orange Flavoured Gin is the sixth edition in Aldi Scotland’s own brand premium Toradh range, which also includes Plum and Pink Grapefruit Gin; Tropical Gin and the classic Original Gin.

The Rock Island Malt Whisky & Tonic is presented in a slimline, 250ml can with matte, maritime blue and gold-foiled colourways. The drink boasts less than 100 calories per can, and 5% alcohol by volume. The new product will be available exclusively in the UK and is expected to retail at £1.99 per can, the company said.

WHISKY

DUNCAN TAYLOR RELEASES TWO ‘RAREST OF THE RARE’ WHISKIES Scotch whisky producer Duncan Taylor has released two rare whiskies as part of their ‘Rarest of the Rare’ portfolio. The launch of a Kinclaith 51-year-old and Caperdonich 50-year-old form part of a collection of rare whisky casks from closed distilleries, that Duncan Taylor Scotch Whisky has matured in their warehouse for half a century. This marks the first time the Aberdeenshire bottler launched drams dating back over 50 years. A limited release of less than 100 handcrafted glass decanters is available for each whisky worldwide. The bottles will be individually numbered and engraved as well as housed in a beautiful lockable framed box, inside a brushed stainless steel carry case.

NEWS PRODUCT NEWS

BEER

WILLIAM BROS BREWER ADDS NEW ENGLAND BEER TO JOKER IPA RANGE

The new product is the company’s response to a “growing thirst for hazy, hoppier beers” in 440ml cans and on draught, capitalising on recent growth of the NEIPAs in the UK. The new beer will be available alongside Joker and Double Joker at their launch events in Edinburgh and Glasgow.

Scottish brewer William Bros. Brewing Co. has launched a new 5% New England style version of their flagship Joker IPA to its hoppy range. The Juicy Joker will be available

“We’ve taken the juiciest elements from our current duo of Joker’s and cranked their volume up to 11. Dialing up the juicy hops and introducing more oats and wheat to give it that smooth mouthfeel the style is known for, all while keeping the strength at an easy drinking 5% ABV,” said Chris Williams, Williams Bros. Director.

WHISKY

Holyrood Distillery adds two gins in Height of Arrows line Holyrood Distillery is expanding the Height of Arrows range with two new gins. The new Heavy and Bright spirits focus on enhancing the flavour of juniper, with Heavy using roasted juniper to create a gin sweetened in the Old Tom style and Bright focusing more on the natural flavourings of the juniper berry.

BALLANTINE’S PARTNERS WITH BORDERLANDS VIDEO GAME TO LAUNCH LIMITED-EDITION WHISKY Pernod-Ricard brand Ballantine’s has tied up with video game software company Gearbox to promote the whisky brand “into the gaming stratosphere”. The deal includes will see the spirit brand launch a limited-edition Ballantine’s Moxxi’s Bar bottle of whisky, named after video game Borderlands’ character Mad Moxxi. The move has been described as the first step in a “long-term” partnership between Ballantine’s and the Borderlands franchise, with more to be announced this year. The expression will be available first in the virtual world of Pandora and later across selected retailers.

Supporting Scottish Suppliers

NEWS RETAIL NEWS

LOCAL SOURCING

SCOTMID LAUNCHES LOCALLY PRODUCED FROZEN RANGE IN ABERDEENSHIRE STORES

Former Dundee Utd Chairman launches convenience chain Eddy’s Food Station

The move reflects a ‘wider consumer trend’ for frozen food and ready meals Scotmid has partnered with Castleton Farm to launch a new locally produced frozen range across selected Aberdeenshire stores. Responding to a growing trend, the new range comprises a variety of vegan, Asian-inspired and traditional meals, including a Wild Mushroom Risotto, Teriyaki Chicken, Meatballs in a Red Pepper Sauce and a Beef Stroganoff. The range is launching in Scotmid’s Inverbervie and Laurencekirk stores as part of an initial trial, partially funded by the Scottish Grocers Federation Go Local programme, which aims to support convenience stores across Scotland to provide dedicated, long-term display space for locally-sourced Scottish produce.

LOCAL RETAILING

SPAR SCOTLAND STARTS STORE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME

Spar Scotland has refreshed its store at Gatehouse of Fleet, Dumfriesshire, as part of its company-owned store investment programme. The new-look store features the retailer’s food-to-go offer CJ’s, backlit spirits, local craft bakery, and locally sourced ranges. In addition, the store features the retailer’s new chilled beers, wines, and spirits zone. The store also has the latest Spar internal and external graphics package, which modernises the overall look of the store, and enables the retailer to highlight the strong links built with the community over the past 30 years.

Stephen Thompson, former Chief Executive of convenience chain Morning Noon & Night and Chairman of Dundee Utd FC, has launched a new convenience chain named Eddy’s Food Station in Alloa, Clackmannanshire. The new chain – Eddy’s Food Station – plans to open a further 30 stores and create 500 roles across central Scotland over the next five years. The chain will use a combination of new sites and the conversion of existing convenience store locations. “The opportunity to operate a successful chain of convenience stores is very promising right now and this venture is an extremely exciting first leg of a long journey for the Eddy’s Food Station brand,” Thompson said.

SCOTTISH RETAIL FOOD & DRINK AWARDS 2022 INTRO

FOOD AND DRINK STARS SHINE AT SRFDAS 2022! The winners of this year’s Scottish Retail Food & Drink Awards were very recently revealed at a celebratory event in The Corinthian in Glasgow.

The winners of this year’s Scottish Retail Food & Drink Awards (SRFDAs) have been formally revealed at a celebratory lunch at The Corinthian in Glasgow. Hosted by former Deacon Blue drummer and Landward host Dougie Vipond, the event saw products from all four corners of Scotland collect award. The highlight of the event saw five products receive coveted Platinum Awards. HELEN LYONS Director, SRFDA

Created to help get more of Scotland’s fantastic food and drink products onto more Scottish retail shelves, the SRFDAs are now in their second year with entries up by more than 30% this time around. More than 50 expert judges from all disciplines judged hundreds of products over an intense month-long period with most of the judging carried out in the judges homes.

BRUCE LANGLANDS Chairman, Platinum Judging Panel

SRFDA Director Helen Lyons explains: “When we launched the SRFDAs during Covid we had no choice but to do judging remotely. What we learned however was that the judges really enjoyed it because it gave them the chance to really get know each product and it gave them the unique

opportunity to experience the products in exactly the same way that a consumer does.” That process allowed the judges spend much more time with each product and familiarise themselves with the products in a much deeper way than is possible under standard judging conditions. Every product which received a Gold Awards was then eligible to be considered for a Platinum Award. The Platinum Awards were judges in an extended full day session, also held at The Corinthian. Bruce Langlands, the former head of food and drink at both Harrods and Selfridges, was Chair of the Platinum judging panel. He commented: “I’ve been in this industry for over 30 years and I’ve seen a good few products cross my desk in that time, but I can honestly say the I’ve seen some of the most impressive products I’ve ever seen during the judging for this year’s SRFDAs. The standards that are being set are quite phenomenal and Scotland’s food and drink sector is clearly in very good hands.” To find out who this year’s winners were, read on....

PLATINUM AWARD WINNERS

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SMALL PRODUCER - FOOD

LARGE PRODUCER - FOOD

UK PRODUCER - FOOD

Blackthorn Salt

Stornaway Black Pudding

Fennel Salami

Charles Macleod Butcher

Corndale Farm

SUPERMARKET OWN LABEL - FOOD

SMALL PRODUCER - DRINKS

SUPERMARKET OWN LABEL - DRINKS

Specially Selected Scotch Aberdeen

Orkney Akvavit Orkney Gin

Glen Marnoch 12 YO Speyside

Angus Ribeye Steak Aldi

Company

Single Malt Whisky Aldi

GOLD AWARD WINNERS

FOOD

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PRODUCER

PRODUCT

SMALL PRODUCER

BLACKTHORN SALT (Blackthorn Salt)

SMALL PRODUCER

GINGERBREAD SPICED HONEY (Edinburgh Honey Co)

SMALL PRODUCER

WHISKY SMOKED FIRECRACKER CASHEWS (Hawkhead Whisky Smoked)

SMALL PRODUCER

WHISKY SMOKED GLAZED CASHEWS (Hawkhead Whisky Smoked)

SMALL PRODUCER

MOSSGIEL COW WITH CALF ORGANIC MILK (Mossgiel Organic Farm)

SMALL PRODUCER

SHORE SEAWEED CHIPS (New Wave Foods)

LARGE PRODUCER

SCOTTISH BUFFALO MOZZARELLA (The Buffalo Farm)

LARGE PRODUCER

STORNOWAY BLACK PUDDING (Charles Macleod Butcher)

LARGE PRODUCER

TRADITIONAL REAL DAIRY ICE CREAM (Mackie’s of Scotland)

LARGE PRODUCER

MARKS & SPENCER SCOTTISH HAGGIS, NEEPS & TATTIES WITH A SCOTCH WHISKY CREAM SAUCE (Scotbeef )

NON ALCOHOLIC

LARGE PRODUCER

SEA SALT & BLACK PEPPER WATER BISCUITS (Stag Bakeries)

SUPERMARKET OWN LABEL

SPECIALLY SELECTED BLACK PUDDING (Aldi)

SUPERMARKET OWN LABEL

SPECIALLY SELECTED JERSEY MILK (Aldi)

SUPERMARKET OWN LABEL

SPECIALLY SELECTED OATCAKES BITES - LOCKERBIE CHEESE (Aldi)

SUPERMARKET OWN LABEL

SPECIALLY SELECTED SCOTCH ABERDEEN ANGUS RIBEYE STEAK (Aldi)

SUPERMARKET OWN LABEL

SPECIALLY SELECTED SCOTCH ABERDEEN ANGUS SIRLOIN STEAK (Aldi)

SUPERMARKET OWN LABEL

DELUXE SCOTTISH TROUT (Lidl)

SMALL PRODUCER

ALBA COLA ORIGINAL (Caledonian Cola Co)

SMALL PRODUCER

OLD FASHIONED WITH SEA TANGLE (Braw Liquor Club)

SMALL PRODUCER

WEE JOCK 80 SHILLING (Broughton Brewery)

SMALL PRODUCER

CAIRNGORM GIN (Cairngorm Gin Company)

SMALL PRODUCER

CAIRNS SCOTCH WHISKY LIQUEUR (Cairns Exclusive Drinks)

SMALL PRODUCER

HILLS & HARBOUR GIN (Crafty Distillery)

SMALL PRODUCER

BARRA ATLANTIC GIN (Isle of Barra Distillers)

SMALL PRODUCER

KINGSHILL GIN (Kingshill Gin)

SMALL PRODUCER

FRAISER LIQUEUR (Leith Liqueur Company)

BEVERAGE DRINK

UK PRODUCER

SMALL PRODUCER

LINGIN LONDON DRY (Linlithgow Distillery)

SMALL PRODUCER

LUNUN GIN (Lunun Gin)

SMALL PRODUCER

AATTA GIN (Orkney Gin Company)

SMALL PRODUCER

ORKNEY AKVAVIT (Orkney Gin Company)

SUPERMARKET OWN LABEL

GLEN MARNOCH 12 YO SPEYSIDE SINGLE MALT WHISKY (Aldi) FENNEL SALAMI (Corndale Farm) VENISON SALAMI (Corndale Farm) FORTUNA 43 RUM (Prohibition Distillery)

SILVER AWARD WINNERS

FOOD

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SIZE

PRODUCT

SMALL PRODUCER

ARTISAN HOT DOGS (Brigston & Co)

SMALL PRODUCER

ZESTY LEMON PUDDING (By The River)

SMALL PRODUCER

ROSE INFUSED ACACIA HONEY (Edinburgh Honey Co)

SMALL PRODUCER

PLUM-DIDDLY-UMPTIOUS (Island Larder)

SMALL PRODUCER

PURE SEA SALT CRYSTALS (Isle of Skye Sea Salt Company)

SMALL PRODUCER

SCOTTISH TABLET - AUTUMN SPICE FLAVOUR (Kerry’s Homemade Tablet)

SMALL PRODUCER

CAULIFLOWER CRISPS (Nudie Snacks)

SMALL PRODUCER

CHEESE LOVERS CHUTNEY (Sarah Gray’s)

SMALL PRODUCER

CHOCOLATE CHILLI PRETZELS (Schoolyard Chillies)

LARGE PRODUCER

KILMARNOCK PIE (Brownings the Bakers)

LARGE PRODUCER

PURE BUFFALO MILK ICE CREAM (The Buffalo Farm)

LARGE PRODUCER

CHILLI JAM (Galloway Lodge)

LARGE PRODUCER

STEWART’S KITCHEN CHICKEN BRAEMAR READY MEAL (Hebridean Food Co)

LARGE PRODUCER

STICKY TOFFEE PUDDING POPCORN (Mackie’s at Taypack)

LARGE PRODUCER

VEGETARIAN HAGGIS IN A HURRY (Macsween of Edinburgh)

LARGE PRODUCER

MARKS & SPENCER SCOTTISH HAGGIS (Macsween of Edinburgh)

SUPERMARKET OWN LABEL

SPECIALLY SELECTED MACARONI CHEESE - HAM HOUGH (Aldi)

SUPERMARKET OWN LABEL

SPECIALLY SELECTED SHORTBREAD ROUNDS - LEMON (Aldi)

SUPERMARKET OWN LABEL

SPECIALLY SELECTED TRIPLE CHOCOLATE TIFFIN (Aldi)

SUPERMARKET OWN LABEL

QMS SCOTCH LORNE SAUSAGE (Lidl)

SUPERMARKET OWN LABEL

SCOTTISH OATCAKES ROUGH (Lidl)

NON ALCOHOLIC

SMALL PRODUCER

RHUBARB SODA (Bon Accord Soft Drinks)

BEVERAGE

SMALL PRODUCER

CUSHIEDOOS PINK GRAPEFRUIT & ROSEHIP SODA (Cushiedoos, Drink Better)

SMALL PRODUCER

JUST THE TONIC (The Start Up Drinks Lab)

SMALL PRODUCER

INDIVIDUAL WRAPPED COFFEE BAGS - CAFFEINE FREE ROAST (Wee Tea Company)

SMALL PRODUCER

LENZIE GIN (Billingtons of Lenzie)

SMALL PRODUCER

BRAMBLE WITH GOOSEBERRY (Braw Liquor Club)

SMALL PRODUCER

OLD JOCK SCOTCH ALE (Broughton Brewery)

DRINK

UK PRODUCER

SMALL PRODUCER

SEVEN CROFTS HANDCRAFTED DRY GIN (Highland Liquor Company)

SMALL PRODUCER

LINGIN NAVY STRENGTH (Linlithgow Distillery)

SMALL PRODUCER

COMMANDO SPIRIT BLENDED SCOTCH WHISKY (North Point Distillery)

SMALL PRODUCER

THE GAEL SIGNATURE SCOTTISH GIN (The Gael Spirits Company)

SMALL PRODUCER

ABZ DRY GIN (The House of Botanicals)

SMALL PRODUCER

REDCASTLE COLD BREW COFFEE RUM LIQUEUR (Toll House Spirits)

LARGE PRODUCER

BELHAVEN OAT STOUT (Belhaven Brewery)

SUPERMARKET OWN LABEL

EIDYN - SCOTTISH PREMIUM GIN (Aldi)

SUPERMARKET OWN LABEL

MEMPHIS BOULEVARD (Aldi)

SUPERMARKET OWN LABEL

PERFECT STORM IPA (Aldi, William Bros) MANGO CHICKEN CURRY (Karri Kitchen) SYMPHONIA APPLE GIN (Woodlab Distillery)

BRONZE AWARD WINNERS

FOOD

SIZE

PRODUCT

SMALL PRODUCER

BEET THIS ORIGINAL SAUCE (Beet This Food Sauce)

SMALL PRODUCER

MINT AND JUNIPER PRALINE (Braemar Chocolate Shop)

SMALL PRODUCER

PORT AND BLUE MURDER PRALINE (Braemar Chocolate Shop)

SMALL PRODUCER

SCOTTIE DOGS (Brigston & Co)

SMALL PRODUCER

DATE AND WALNUT BAR (By The River)

SMALL PRODUCER

CLOOTIE DUMPLING (Clootie McToot Dumplings)

SMALL PRODUCER

HAND HARVESTED SCOTTISH SEA SALT (East Neuk Salt)

SMALL PRODUCER

PUFFIN POO (Island Larder)

SMALL PRODUCER

TRADITIONAL OAK SMOKED TROUT (Isle of Bute Smokehouse)

SMALL PRODUCER

MAPLE & PECAN FUDGE (The Ochil Fudge Pantry)

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SMALL PRODUCER

PHEASANT & GINGER SAUSAGES (Woodmill Game)

SMALL PRODUCER

VENISON & RED WINE PIES (Woodmill Game)

LARGE PRODUCER

CHOCOLATE CAKE BARS (Lazy Day Foods)

LARGE PRODUCER

BOXING DAY CURRY POTATO CRISPS (Mackie’s at Taypack)

LARGE PRODUCER

DELICIOUS EVERY DAY HAGGIS (Macsween of Edinburgh)

SUPERMARKET OWN LABEL

SPECIALLY SELECTED CHUTNEY - RED PEPPER & PAPRIKA (Aldi)

SUPERMARKET OWN LABEL

SPECIALLY SELECTED SCOTTISH ICE CREAM - MADAGASCAN VANILLA (Aldi)

SUPERMARKET OWN LABEL

SPECIALLY SELECTED SCOTTISH STRAWBERRY PRESERVE (Aldi)

SUPERMARKET OWN LABEL

SCOTTISH POTATO SCONES (Lidl)

NON ALCOHOLIC

SMALL PRODUCER

CLYDE STEAMER (Argyll Coffee Roasters)

BEVERAGE

SMALL PRODUCER

SCOTTISH RASPBERRY LEMONADE (Summerhouse Drinks)

SMALL PRODUCER

BREAKFAST TEA - TEA BAGS (Wee Tea Company)

SMALL PRODUCER

IRON BREW LOOSE LEAF TEA CADDY - BLENDED IN SCOTLAND (Wee Tea Company)

SMALL PRODUCER

MIGHTY CHAI LOOSE LEAF TEA (Wee Tea Company)

UK PRODUCER

BIG TASTY POT CHICKEN CURRY & RICE (Big Pot Co) FORTUNA GRAPEFRUIT & COCONUT RUM (Prohibition Distillery) SPARKLING BLUSH LEMONADE (Troughtons Premium)

DRINK

SMALL PRODUCER

GULLANE GLÖGG (By Julia)

SMALL PRODUCER

SUCH IS LIFE NEIPA (Five Kingdoms Brewery)

SMALL PRODUCER

NORTH POINT PILOT RUM (North Point Distillery)

SMALL PRODUCER

ROEHILL SPRINGS HONEYBERRY GIN (Roehill Springs Distillery)

SMALL PRODUCER

PENTLAND HILLS FIREWORK GIN (Tarbraxus Distillers)

SMALL PRODUCER

PENTLAND HILLS NAVY STRENGTH GIN (Tarbraxus Distillers)

SMALL PRODUCER

ORO (The Oro Distilling Co)

SMALL PRODUCER

ORORUM (The Oro Distilling Co)

SMALL PRODUCER

INVERCLYDE GIN (The Start Up Drinks Lab)

LARGE PRODUCER

BELHAVEN WEE HEAVY (Belhaven Brewery)

LARGE PRODUCER

EDINBURGH RUM (GM Spirits)

SUPERMARKET OWN LABEL

TORADH RASPBERRY GIN LIQUEUR (Aldi)

FINALISTS

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IQF HAND PEELED LANGOUSTINE TAILS (Amity Fish Company) SHETLAND BAR (Braemar Chocolate Shop) SCOTTISH TABLET - CARDAMOM & MADAGASCAN VANILLA FLAVOUR (Kerry’s Homemade Tablet) BURKE AND HABANERO (Leithal Hot Sauces) LOTHIATHAN (Leithal Hot Sauces) GINGER CHUNKS SMOTHERED IN DARK BELGIAN CHOCOLATE (MacDonalds of Alford) DELICIOUS EVERY DAY VEGETARIAN HAGGIS (Macsween of Edinburgh) GLUTEN FREE HAGGIS (Macsween of Edinburgh) MARKS & SPENCER SCOTTISH SPICE VEGETABLE & LENTIL HAGGIS (Macsween of Edinburgh) HAND CRAFTED RASPBERRY COCONUT SLICES (McGhees) SPECIALLY SELECTED GASTRO ABERDEEN ANGUS STEAK PIE (Aldi) SCOTTISH RIDGE CUT CRISPS - SALT & VINEGAR (Lidl) CHEESE POTATO CROQUETTES (Lidl)

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We are Scotland’s official trade body representing food and drink wholesale distributors…the wheels to Scotland’s food and drink industry. Helping create a stronger, more sustainable local food and drink supply chain.

Interested in growing your business through wholesale and getting your products into retail, hospitality, on-trade and the public sector? G DELIVERINTHROUGH GROWTH LE SA LE WHO regional Local and rtnerships pa sourcing

Then speak to us about our “Delivering Growth Through Wholesale” training and education programme.

www.scottishwholesale.co.uk Contact John Farrell, Member Development Officer: john@scottishwholesale.co.uk 074 8521 1669 or info@scottishwholesale.co.uk Scottish Wholesale Association, 30 McDonald Place, Edinburgh EH7 4NH

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MEET THE JUDGE BRUCE LANGLANDS

WHAT DOES THE LEAD BUYER AT HARRODS LOOK FOR IN A NEW PRODUCT? If you’ve ever wondered what the lead buyer at Harrods looks for when assessing new products to list, look no further. Our official Ambassador and Judging Chairman Bruce Langlands, former Food & Restaurant Main Board Director at both Harrods and Selfridges, gives us the inside track. BY ANTONY BEGLEY & ELENA DIMAMA

The most common question I get asked by food and drink producers is what exactly am I looking for when I’m looking at new products. When I was Food & Restaurant Director at both Harrods and Selfridges, I probably had between five and 10 products come across my desk every week. I had a buying team, of course, but I always took a personal interest in taking a close look at any new products we were considering stocking.

A former Director of Foods at Harrods and Director of Food & Hospitality at Selfridges, as well as a proud Scot, Bruce has been heavily involved with the Scottish Retail Food & Drink Awards since day one. He once more oversaw and Chaired this year’s judging process, including our Platinum judging day in Glasgow.

PACK A PUNCH Throughout his 30-year career in food

Honestly, the first thing I did with every product was assess the packaging. I know people say that it’s all about the quality of the product and part of me definitely believes that because the product has to be amazing, but it’s the packaging that catches my eye and makes me want to pick it up in the first place. It’s exactly the same for the consumer.

Bruce has worked closely with suppliers large and small developing their products and businesses within the UK, Ireland and Europe and always with a retail audience in mind. He understands food, drink and retail in a way that very few can match.

MEET THE JUDGE BRUCE LANGLANDS

With the packaging, I’m asking myself: what exactly is it telling me about the product? As a retailer, what I’m looking for is something that’s unique and different. That’s true of every retailer these days, be that Harrods in London or be that a Spar store in Aberdeen. It’s a cut-throat business and all retailers are looking for something different, something that their competitors may not have, something that’s going to really excite and engage their customers. TIME TO TALK Once the packaging has got me interested, I’ll dive in and sample it. If it’s offering something different and it’s outstanding quality, maybe it’s time for a conversation with the producer. If not, it goes in the bin. Another question I get asked a lot is: how do I actually get in front of a retailer with my product? The answer is not as mysterious as you might expect. If you have a great product in great packaging that offers something different, all you need to do find out who the key buyer is and get in touch, then send them a sample with tasting notes and maybe some great photos. DO YOUR HOMEWORK And if you move onto the next stage and get asked to meet the buyer, do your homework. Understand your product inside out and back to front. Understand your competitors too, particularly when it comes to being clear on where your product fits in its competitive set. Just as importantly, understand your prospective retail partner. Nobody goes to a Ford garage to buy a Mercedes and it’s the same in food retail. Understand your buyer and understand what their customers want.

MEET THE JUDGE BRUCE LANGLANDS

There’s no doubt the pandemic has transformed an industry that was already in the midst of great change. Food retail has shifted dramatically in the last five years but the last year has seen that change turbo-charged. Yes, there have been a lot of challenges – but there are also lots of positives and opportunities, particularly for smaller producers and retailers. BE PROACTIVE Shoppers are now shopping locally far more often than ever before and that opens up lots of doors for proactive small producers and retailers. Consumers are shopping on their doorstep these days, but they’re also expecting more from their visits to local stores – and the retailers that have understood this and responded to it are the ones who have thrived. Really good retailers have embraced this shift by working with their supply base. Take my local convenience store. I used to go there maybe once a week for bread and milk. Under the pandemic I’m shopping there three and four times a week and, hats off to the retailer, he transformed his range in under a month. I can now get all sorts of spices, fresh veg and cooking ingredients that he never stocked before. He has added a range of local products and a load of interesting new options. I get a personal service, he’ll stock new lines on request, he listens. And I’ll continue shopping there long into the future. He’s now a destination store for me. For many retailers these days, it’s all about

becoming a destination store. It’s about offering a range that shoppers can’t easily get anywhere else nearby, it’s about giving them reasons to visit your store and not someone else’s. Which is why, when retailers are looking at new products, they have to be unusual and different. With restaurants closed, people are getting more adventurous with their home cooking and the retailers that understand this trend and cater to it will do well. STAY AGILE And one of the biggest tools in the armoury of every small retailer and producer is agility. You can turn things around quickly and, just as importantly, if something isn’t working, you can turn it off just as quickly. So 2021 could be a huge year for small retailers and producers and it all comes down to one thing: communication. Working in partnership is the key to unlocking growth and sales. Small producers and retailers really, really understand their customers and by working in partnership, they can deliver new products and new ranges that will appeal to that specific customer base. My final piece of advice? If you get in front of a buyer, be passionate but realistic. Don’t sell your soul. I’ve seen it so many times. Don’t be pressurised into giving away what you can’t afford to give away. Buyers will push, they want the biggest possible margin – but it needs to work for you too.

MEET THE PRODUCER DEAN BANKS

THE MAKING OF PLATINUM AWARDWINNING LUNUN GIN When Masterchef Professionals finalist Dean Banks was looking for the perfect house pour gin for his restaurant and couldn’t find it he decided to create his own, and his creation offers retailers a great opportunity to expand their Scottish gin range with a Platinum Award-winning option. BY ANTONY BEGLEY & ELENA DIMAMA

We’ve been talking for long enough about when the gin bubble is going to burst but summer after summer the category remains as resilient as ever – and this summer looks set to be no different. While flavoured gins are driving most growth, there is also increasing interest in locally, regionally and nationally sourced gins. Local retailers in Scotland are fortunate on that front, with an extensive range of fantastic quality Scottish gins available to them. One of these is Lunun Gin, the creation of Scottish chef Dean Banks, possibly best known for being a finalist in the Masterchef: The Professionals TV show in 2018.

MEET THE PRODUCER DEAN BANKS

Lunun Gin recently a Platinum Award in the Scottish Retail Food & Drink Awards last year where it was described by the judges as “a work of art in every sense”. The story of how the gin came to be is an inspiring one. Banks, who now operates the chain of outstanding Haar restaurants – two in St Andrews and one in Edinburgh – explains: “It all started when we were looking for a Scottish gin to become our house pour in Haar. We bought every bottle of Scottish gin we could find and while many were fantastic, none of them were exactly what I was looking for.”

MEET THE PRODUCER LUNUN BAY

Banks admits that the one that came closest was Harris Gin, but being something of a perfectionist, ‘close’ wasn’t close enough. “So I decided to create my own gin to my own precise specifications!” he laughs. Banks had an old school friend in his hometown Arbroath who was an experienced distiller; they quickly set about helping the chef transform his dream into a delicious, liquid reality.

Dean’s attention to detail, however, extended far beyond just the liquid. Lunun’s bottle and label were described by the judges as “a work of art”. “When we were designing the label, I wanted it to look distinctive on the shelf or the gantry and I wanted it to reflect the character of the gin itself,” explains Dean. “The label is actually a stylised view of Lunun Bay, a place where I spent a lot of time as a child. And in the logo we subtly incorporated two kaffir lime leaves and Sichuan peppercorns.”

“In my head, I wanted the gin to be a reflection of my cooking. At the restaurants we always hero Scottish produce, but we try to give our dishes a twist. So I wanted to do the same with the gin. I’m proud to be Scottish and I’m proud of Scotland’s natural produce so I wanted to make something with a Scottish heart.”

LISTINGS GALORE Lunun Gin finally went on sale for the first time in October 2019 and has gone on to secure listings in a number of wholesale, retail and hospitality outlets. Winning a Platinum Scottish Retail Food & Drink Award can only help Banks share his creation with an even wider audience.

ASIAN TWIST That twist that Dean gives to his dishes, and the one he wanted to give to his gin, was an Asian one. He says: “I have travelled extensively in Asia and there’s something about that fusion of top quality Scottish ingredients with more exotic flavours that just works. With that in mind, I drew up a list of botanicals that I wanted to try and drove to the Chinese supermarket and picked them all up. I wasn’t at all sure that they would work because some of them didn’t instinctively seem like obvious choices. We used things like kaffir lime leaf, kombu kelp and Sichuan peppercorns.”

“I was absolutely delighted to win the Platinum award,” he concludes. “Particularly because it was a blind judging done by a panel of experienced, expert drinks industry specialists. Scotland boasts some of the best gins in the world, in my opinion, so to come out top against that sort of competition is just wonderful.” LOOKING AHEAD

The result? “It was astonishing,” enthuses Dean. “We nailed it first time! We tried a variety of percentage mixes and a variety of ABVs from 39% to 45% and it was the 41% version that was the sweet spot, strong enough to hold the flavour but not to overpower it.”

“Since the re-opening of events nationwide last year, our experts have been on the road bringing the Lunun experience to thousands of gin-lovers across Scotland,” he explains. Dean has also launched a new premium spirit, called Mond Vodka, which he described as a “hit since coming to market six months ago”. The company is also looking to expand into more stockists who will become champions of their brands.

The fact that Dean’s Lunun Gin won a Platinum Award at the Scottish Retail Food & Drink Awards shows that the expert judges agreed.

We work with local producers to help identify new trends, bring forward innovative products and grow their business.

Northern Ireland.

Bringing our world-class food and drink to your table. Northern Ireland food and drink producers have once again performed exceptionally in a wide range of national food and drink awards and continue to be recognised for their Pure, Natural, Quality. Our dynamic and forward-thinking manufacturers continue to innovate to provide the best product offering to their retail and food service customers UK-wide. Invest NI would like to congratulate SRFDA winners for their outstanding achievement. Learn how you can serve our quality food and drink.

Northern Ireland. Altogether more.

For further information contact Michelle Charrington, Invest NI E: michelle.charrington@investni.com T: +44 (0)78 1717 3514 Drew McIvor, Invest NI E: drew.mcivor@investni.com T: +44 (0)78 1354 4535

MARKET RESEARCH 56 DEGREE INSIGHT

WHY LOCAL REALLY DOES MATTER TO CONSUMERS At the end of last year, SRFDA commissioned our official research partners 56 Degree Insight to conduct a major study into consumer attitudes towards local, regional and national sourcing in Scotland. Click play to find out more...

It’s probably fair to say that most of us are aware of growing interest in locally, regionally and nationally sourced products in Scotland - but at SRFDA, we were keen to take a deeper dive into what consumer’s really think about Scottish products. How important are they? Do they prefer them to non-scottish products? How important is sustainability? To answer these and many more questions, we commissioned Edinburgh-based research specialists 56 Degree Insight to carry out an extensive study among a representative sample of more than 700 Scottish consumers. The research was carried out at the very back end of last year - and the findings make for very interesting reading. To give you a flavour of the key findings however, please check out the video above where Jim Eccleston, Managing Partner of 56 Degree Insight, presents a fast-paced overview on the most significant discoveries. *

To read more details on the research findings, visit www.scottishretailfoodanddrinkawards.com/consumer-attitudes/

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MEET THE RETAILER DAN BROWN, PINKIE PARK CONVENIENCE, MUSSELBURGH

THE SURPRISING BENEFITS OF WORKING WITH SMALL LOCAL PRODUCERS Working with smaller local producers has many obvious benefits for convenience retailers, but there are many less obvious benefits too says Musselburgh Nisa retailer and SGF President Dan Brown. BY ANTONY BEGLEY

One of the many consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic was a major shift towards local sourcing in the convenience retailing sector as the entire supply chain attempted to cope with change on an unprecedented scale and pace as coronavirus turned the world on its head. One of the seismic shifts was a re-evaluation of the benefits of local sourcing by many local retailers and wholesalers. Historically, the convenience sector has been heavily reliant on wholesalers who are, in turn, heavily reliant on the major FMCG brands, many of them global players. And, to be fair, when the big global brand supply chain works, it unquestionably works well. But when it doesn’t work, it creates chaos. The mass-scale availability issues we saw last year were astonishing. When even supermarkets are half-empty you know there’s a major problem. On the whole, local retailers managed their availability issues a lot better, taking advantage of their ability to be nimble, creative and committed

to doing whatever it took to keep essentials on the shelves. But under Covid-19, the supply chain genie was released from the bottle – and it will take a long time to force it back in. Under coronavirus, local retailers had to get more creative just to keep stock on the shelves for the communities they serve across Scotland. And, for many, that meant leaning much more heavily on smaller, more local producers. And you know what? The experience was enlightening for many. Dan Brown, Manager of multi-award-winning Pinkie Farm Convenience Store in Edinburgh and standing Scottish Grocers’ Federation (SGF) President has certainly found that working with local producers has been a hugely rewarding experience, and in lots of ways that he hadn’t expected. Dan, a judge at this year’s Scottish Retail Food & Drink Awards, said: “We’ve always tried to use local producers because our customers like local

MEET THE RETAILER DAN BROWN, PINKIE PARK CONVENIENCE, MUSSELBURGH

Our experience of working more intensely with local suppliers under coronavirus yielded lots of unexpected benefits: they tend to be very responsive, very proactive and very willing to work with us in ways that big producers can’t.

products and because we believe in supporting the local economy,” he explains. “But our experience of working more intensely with local suppliers under coronavirus has actually yielded lots of unexpected benefits. They tend to be very responsive, very proactive and very willing to work with us in ways that big producers can’t or won’t.” One of the most successful examples of how this has worked in practice has been a willingness from local producers to really work hand-in-hand with Dan to understand his customer base at a level that is just not possible for bigger suppliers. “We’ve had local suppliers happy to create bespoke products just for the store, for instance,” says Dan. “That’s a massively important thing for us because it gives us genuine points of difference against our competitors. These days, the convenience sector is very focused on becoming ‘destination stores’, stores that offer differentiated ranges and give customers more reasons to visit your store rather than someone else’s. Having

unique, bespoke products specifically created for the store is a fantastic way to achieve that.” Another huge benefit to working with local producers is being able to tap into the sheer depth and width of knowledge that is available. Dan explains: “What I never really appreciated before is that when you work closely with smaller local businesses, you realise you’re gaining access to vast amounts of experience and expertise. These are companies that live and breathe their products, so they know them inside out. They’ve been able to offer absolutely exceptional support and advice.” That support has allowed Dan to create a tailored, differentiated range that precisely meets the demands of his customer bases and helps set his store even further apart from the competition. “We’ll definitely be using more local suppliers in the longer term, concludes Dan. “It just works.”

FACE TO FACE COLIN MCLEAN

FIVE MINUTES WITH.....

COLIN MCLEAN CEO, SPAR SCOTLAND Listed catches up with Spar Scotland boss Colin McLean to find out why Scottish food and drink is so important to his business. BY ANTONY BEGLEY

FACE TO FACE COLIN MCLEAN

AS THE LEADING WHOLESALER AND RETAILER IN SCOTLAND, HOW IMPORTANT IS SCOTTISH FOOD AND DRINK TO YOUR BUSINESS?

retailers and stores who share their values and in return they will be loyal to them. Sustainably aware shoppers expect to see available responsibly sourced products on shelf. This shift in customer expectation creates opportunities for us to differentiate our offers and attract new customers, with climate concerns particularly marked amongst younger shoppers. We are signposting local products in store, highlighting their local availability and low food miles.

We are very proud of our heritage. Charles J Lang founded our business in 1919 and we have been a truly Scottish business since. We understand just how important it is to support the country’s many fantastic small local producers and currently work with over 150 local suppliers across Scotland. During the pandemic we saw how shopper interest in local products grew and we are keen to play our part in building on that momentum.

HOW DO YOU SEE THE LOCAL SOURCING TREND EVOLVING OVER THE NEXT YEAR OR TWO?

Small producers are invaluable to local communities. The benefits of a strong network of local food and drink producers are far reaching. Their investment into a diverse range of products, create local jobs and make it possible for the food and drink industry to thrive. It also means shoppers have access to more options to choose from, all produced close to home.

We can only see the local sourcing trend growing stronger in the next year or two. The customer of today and indeed the future is clearly very in tune with supporting local producers and suppliers which is turn protects jobs and the local economy. The whole ESG piece will continue to be widely debated and we will continue to play our part in ensuring we embrace and support local sourcing both now and in the future years to come.

Now is a good opportunity too to thank Scottish producers for going above and beyond during the last couple of years. We could not be more grateful for the support family firms and producers have shown us, in ensuring our stores could continue to offer fresh and nutritional produce to communities across Scotland.

WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR WHEN YOU ARE CONSIDERING LISTING NEW SCOTTISH FOOD AND DRINK PRODUCTS? We are passionate about local and proud of championing Scotland with 50% of what we buy coming from Scotland. When selecting the products, it comes down to three aspects:

WHAT ARE THE KEY BENEFITS OF LOCAL, REGIONAL AND NATIONAL SOURCING FOR SPAR SCOTLAND? There are so many benefits to local sourcing. Supporting small, local producers helps sustain local economies across Scotland, it helps safeguard jobs and it helps minimise our impact on the planet thanks to significantly reduced road miles. Small-scale production is better for the planet. By supporting local Scottish business, we are buying local produce that is very fresh. These products are grown by local people with a real passion for giving quality food and drink to consumers.

First is always what customers want – naturally demand generally drives supply unless you are sat on a load of sunflower oil right now. So, the upmost importance is our Scottish suppliers that are focusing on our Scottish and regional customer base needs and trends; what they expect from the brand that represent that product to the quality, price, and size they expect to get in return. We know inflation is hitting shoppers so quality value on your doorstep is crucial. It goes without saying this also includes ensuring the supplier meets the credentials in regard to industry standards and safety.

Responsible retailing is as high a priority as ever within convenience retailing. Customers today are seeking out

Secondly is a point of difference – we are fortunate to have a Country of great producers but in turn that means a lot of competition. So why should a customer pick your brand over A another? Award winning quality, a story that resonates, an exclusive product/blend, engaging marketing, ethically do you give back and nurture your neighbourhood or are you the latest Tik Tok sensation? What is your story? Finally, commercials, does it work for; the customer, ourselves, independent retailers and importantly the supplier at what scale. We will of course support and actively coach our suppliers that need it, we supply to every corner of our great Country, which is naturally great scale, but we don’t want this to break an up and coming supplier, we want to champion our suppliers and fly the flag for Scotland. So, we will work with them on capacity, scale, margin, and retail expectations with forecasts to ensure this works for all parties at the forefront. We will support by looking at scale up distribution from a smaller store count to ensure capacity in manufacturing can be built up at the right pace. For some of our suppliers without their own trucks we will offer backhaul capabilities to offer discounted market leading rates to remove any haulier concerns in the current market. WHAT ARE THE KEY BENEFITS TO SCOTTISH PRODUCERS OF WORKING WITH SPAR SCOTLAND? Being based in Scotland with a full distribution network and a full Scotland-based buying team means SPAR Scotland is in a great place to work with more small local suppliers and help them get their products out to more shoppers. For over 100 years we have been supplying food to the convenience sector. We are investing significantly in our stores and within that we are looking at our ranges which will bring out the best local food producers Scotland has to offer. This is a great opportunity to help Scotland’s local suppliers grow and thrive.

We are passionate about local and proud of championing Scotland with 50% of what we buy coming from Scotland.

FEATURE MARKETING & PR

HOW TO MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR SRFDA AWARD WIN Eimear Andersen, Managing Owner at Tansor PR and official PR agency for SRFDA, shares her top tips to help your brand drive awareness and benefit from marketing opportunities following an SRFDA win or shortlisting.

Now that you have been shortlisted or even won a medal at Scottish Retail Food and Drink Awards (SRFDA), it is a fantastic way to entice new customers and retailers to hear about your business. But what to do next with your award win? It is important to have great achievements recognised these days; by winning a medal at SRFDA, 44% of customers are more likely to choose your product with the logo attached. So how do they hear about it? Once you are a proud winner – whether that’s platinum, gold, silver or bronze, use the award marketing package available from SRFDA.

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It is important to think of the PR value and decide on a communications plan to make the most of your win. You can promote this great achievement by sending details to your local and regional newspapers and telling everyone about it in your social media network. The marketing and PR opportunities for winners are plentiful. It is another great chance to market your business and sell your good news message. SRFDA gives you not only an award win but a badge of honour you can use for being a winner. Adding “award winner” is a valuable tool you can use on your website, social

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FEATURE MARKETING & PR

HOW TO TELL THE PRESS

THE WORLD OF SOCIAL MEDIA

Here is checklist of materials useful when speaking to local press and remember to act fast when you win they will not be interested in news that is months old. Q Create a press release Q Include key information about your company and your award win Q Add an image of your product and the picture of your receiving your prize with the SRFDA logo. A good image can increase the amount of media space you get and as the saying goes; a picture really can paint a thousand words Q Add all your contact details Q Be fearless and don’t forget to share any articles published to your social media network!

Social media has become vital to every business. With this in mind, promoting your award win via social networking sites can come with remarkable success. The different social media channels to consider: Q LinkedIn Q Twitter Q Facebook Q TikTok Q Instagram

USE SOCIAL MEDIA TO TELL YOUR GREAT STORY Q Create posts – “Look what we’ve won” Q Add a hashtag #SRFDA22 #SRFDA #AwardWinner #Platinum #Gold #Silver #Bronze #medalwinner Q Tag @ScottishRfda on Twitter or Instagram Q Tag the category sponsor Q Include winning citation – i.e., what the judges said about your product (this content adds credibility for your award win) Q Add excellent product images or videos Q Say which stores your product is available in or how people can buy your product Q Retweet or like great comments of congratulations Q Add thanks to those who cheer you on Q Build your network and follow back

media, product presentations, in a news piece, or on your email signature. It gives your business the credit it deserves. SHARE YOUR STORY Do not be afraid to tell your local newspaper (which can be picked up by radio and TV) all about your award win as well as sending the news out on social media, in newsletters to your customers and of course on your website; there is an immense value in positive PR. You get an opportunity to influence your target audience customers who will be looking for your product in stores and retailers who will be looking to stock your award-winning product.

SOCIAL MEDIA TIPS & TRICKS Never stop being your own company ambassador Quality content is vital Convey your message with integrity Be inviting and respond quickly Create a community Keep in mind that customers, employees, suppliers, retailers, new business prospects will follow you Q Remember that your local posts may become national Q Once your information is published online, it leaves a digital footprint Q Keep it fun and keep it up! Q Q Q Q Q Q

It is also a great chance for existing and potential retailers to hear about your product and all the reasons why it won such an important accolade from SRFDA. It is the prospect to drive sales, generate an emotional connection with your brand by telling your story and sending your message out to a wider audience that you might not have had the chance to reach previously.

FEATURE MEDIA COVERAGE

MAKING THE HEADLINES One of the many benefits of winning Awards is the significant PR benefit that your business can gain with national, regional and digital media. BY ELENA DIMAMA

The highlight of the Scottish Retail Food and Drink Awards (SRFDA) may be the annual high profile, glamorous Awards ceremony itself - but the work around the Awards carries on all year round. We pride ourselves on building lasting relationships with producers, retailers, suppliers, wholesalers and influencers - and those relationships are built and sustained 12 months of the year. As the most inclusive food and drink Awards programme in Scotland, we work hard at bringing the entire industry together, regardless of size, and helping connect businesses and individuals with mutual interests. Securing new listings for producers and introducing great products to retailers is what the SRFDAs are all about. One way we help achieve these aims is by working with local, regional, national and digital media to secure maximum coverage for everyone involved in the Awards. We work particularly closely with our official media partners News Scotland, the company behind Scotland’s biggest selling newspapers The Times Scotland, The Sunday Times Scotland and The Scottish Sun. We also work with Scottish Local Retailer, our official trade media partner, which helps get Scottish products in front of Scotland’s 5,000+ convenience retailers. And through our PR agency Tansor PR, we also reach out to all print and digital media. Here are just some examples of how the SRFDAs have been covered in the media.

FEATURE ETHICAL RETAILING

THE RISE OF ETHICAL RETAILING One of the possible long term legacies of the last few years looks set to be an increase in consumer interest in ‘ethical shopping’, a phrase that means different things to different people, but the implications for the retailing sector could be enormous. BY ANTONY BEGLEY

Coronavirus will have many lasting impacts upon the local retailing sector, both negative and positive – but one of the more likely outcomes is that the pandemic will change forever the way that consumers shop. Their experiences during the last few months have helped shoppers understand that the communities they live in are more fragile than they had imagined and the local economies they rely on are similarly less robust than they might have hoped. A rise in more ethical consumption is a distinct possibility, but what exactly does ‘ethical’ mean to shoppers? In reality, it probably means 100 different things to 100 different consumers, but it’s likely to encompass issues such as sustainability, local sourcing, authenticity, veganism, community spirit, transparency and a greater interest in people and the planet than purely on pound notes.

FEATURE ETHICAL RETAILING

KAM Media Strategy & Insight Director Blake Gladman puts it this way: “If you consider all the factors at play when shoppers decide upon which brand to buy or what retailer to shop at, the usual suspects spring to mind: price, range, availability, speed of service and so on. Yet, from our research, around half of consumers consider the brand’s impact on health, the environment and their ethical stance as major factors in influencing their decision.” I suspect that if KAM had to re-run that study now, after the experiences of the last few months, that number might now be significantly above 50%. So, for retailers, is it as basic as just becoming ‘more ethical’? And how exactly do they become more ethical? “It’s not that simple,” says Gladman. “It’s not as easy as just saying you care about the environment and your community, you need to ‘live’ your ideals if you want to resonate with consumers of today. Everything a brand or retailer does from how it treats its staff to how it disposes of its waste and how it interacts with the local communities in which it operates – is all, somehow or another, in the public domain, and it’s by these actions that consumers measure a company, not by what it says in its adverts.” AUTHENTICITY Transparency and authenticity, then, sit at the core of a truly ethical retailing business. The good news, however, is that what’s good for the environment and good for the community is invariably also good for business. “We all like to spend more time with people we like, respect and who share the same values as us,” says Gladman. “And it’s no different when it comes to the brands or retailers we choose to spend our time and money with. Show your customers that you are a business that they should want to do business with. The key, however, is that it has to be authentic. Nurturing authenticity is a sure-fire way to gain credibility and loyalty but a lack of authenticity or worse – trying to fake it – is a one-way ticket to the bottom of the pile.” In today’s ‘always on’, connected world, it is easier than ever to bring your customers into your world and share your

FEATURE ETHICAL RETAILING

journey with them. Around two thirds of the UK population actively use social media and spend an average of almost two hours a day on sites like Facebook and Twitter. That means news travels fast, and that means good news and bad news. “It’s all about having a set of principles that you truly believe in and sticking to them,” says Craig McCormack, a director of ethical Glasgow wholesaler Greencity Wholefoods. “Since we were formed in 1978, we have believed there is more to business than just profit. We started out in business simply packing bulk wholefoods into smaller packs to help retailers and the catering industry which helped create a healthy, ethical ethos for the business. Since then we have tried to lead the way by ensuring that everything we sell is free of GMO and other harmful ingredients and we actively maintain a list of brands that we don’t feature due to their unethical stance.” The company’s principles are wide-ranging and strict. It does not sell any products tested on animals, only sells goods that are suitable for vegetarians, offers a huge range of dietary specific products such as dairy-free and glutenfree foods and has zero tolerance policies in place for a range of important sustainability issues including plastics, packaging and unethical ingredients. As authenticity goes, in terms of ‘living their ideals’, it doesn’t get much more authentic than this. As the original ethical wholesaler, does Greencity believe that the coronavirus pandemic will see a rise in interest in ethical consumption? McCormack believes so: “There are choices that can be made. I think consumers realise that a lot of the problems of food supply during the pandemic were down to poor supply chains involving larger producers and retailers. There is a growing movement towards more local and ethical suppliers as people are starting to see that many larger producers only care about profit. The damage many of the larger corporations inflict on the environment and health is becoming more evident every day.” He believes that the massive shift towards using local retailers during the crisis will be sustained to some extent in the longer term, and this will translate into higher demand for ethical products as retailers see more and more

Previously retailers assumed ethical and local products had a high price tag which the public would be reluctant to pay, but now there is a realisation that consumers will pay a fair price for the right product. 42

FEATURE ETHICAL RETAILING

shoppers seeking out ethically better products. Crucially, McCormack is also seeing evidence that shoppers are increasingly happy to pay more for better food.

carrier bags, encouraging use of reusable cups and engaging positively with the Deposit Return Scheme are all actions that can be implemented easily and quickly.”

“Previously retailers assumed that ethical and local products had a high price tag which the public would be reluctant to pay, but now there is a realisation that consumers will pay a fair price for the right product,” he explains. “Coronavirus has also allowed retailers to find a whole new demographic of customers, people who previously would head to a specific type of shop now know they can get what they want more locally.”

But it’s not enough to simply work on your ethical stance, agree McCormack and Gladman, you have to communicate efficiently and regularly with your customers and potential customers.

If the market is primed, then, for a shift to more mindful consumption, how do retailers go about improving their ethical credentials? “It’s actually pretty easy with some thought and creativity,” volunteers McCormack. “For example, there are everyday products like tea and coffee which are Fairtrade and would work for any retailer. The days of instant coffee are fading and the demand for better coffee and tea sourced ethically and sustainably has massive potential. “The same can be said for more local products and research has shown that Scottish products are often regarded as much better quality than similar products from elsewhere. It’s a powerful strategy for local retailers to be able to offer so many local, regional and Scottish products that customers won’t see in a supermarket.” START SIMPLE Gladman also suggests that it’s best to start simple and work your way up when it comes to building your ethical credentials. “It’s very hard for retailers to engage with calls to ‘help stop climate change’ or ‘improve the health eating habits of the nation’,” he says. “So keep it simple and keep it actionable. Reducing unnecessary use of plastic packaging in store, banning plastic

“Communication is key,” advises McCormack. “It’s not difficult to improve your credentials and it’s not difficult to make an impact in-store. I’ve seen retailers do this successfully by creating a Scottish products fixture which drove increases in sales because people are interested in local products. And social media is a very powerful tool which allows you to tell customers your story and the story of products you sell.” He cites an example of one Greencity customer who recognised the growth of Airbnb in his local area and identified an opportunity to introduce wine tasting events via social media, using video and customer reviews to promote a new, improved range of alcohol products. This led to an increase in revenue, especially from tourists who don’t want to travel far from their accommodation. “If it’s shareable, then share it,” advises Gladman. “Social media allows you to share your values and your ethics quickly and easily and helps you develop a much deeper relationship with your customers. If you’re not there yet on your journey towards more ethical retailing or you haven’t even started, don’t worry. Just start the journey now and share it with your customers. They want the real you, warts and all. Customers know we live in a world that’s not perfect so the way to truly connect with today’s consumer is to embrace the challenges you face, embrace the mistakes you make and celebrate your successes as you take them on that journey with you.”