Rural Payments and Services

Transport companies urged to take sourcing pledge.

Scotland’s airports, stations and ports have been urged to do more to showcase our nation’s outstanding food and drink.

Cabinet Secretary for Food Richard Lochhead has written to the companies that run Scotland’s main transport hubs asking them to do more to promote good quality, healthy Scottish produce.

It comes in the run up to Scotland’s Year of Food and Drink which begins on January 1, 2015, and to the start of the country’s new rail franchises. From April 2015 ScotRail and Caledonian Sleeper will use locally sourced produce to promote the best of Scottish food and drink.

Speaking on a visit to a Tesco store in Edinburgh which is promoting iconic Scottish products, the Cabinet Secretary said:

“Scotland is a land of food and drink, and our exceptional natural larder is renowned around the world.

“From our fresh fruit and seafood, and prime cuts of meat to indulgent treats like shortbread, fudge and ice cream, the food and drink we produce here has unrivalled quality and provenance.

“Our Year of Food and Drink 2015 is a fantastic opportunity to celebrate our nation’s outstanding produce, and transport hubs which welcome visitors to Scotland are the obvious place to showcase our local food and drink.

“Tesco is kicking off the year by promoting iconic Scottish products in 200 Scottish stores in the run up to Hogmanay. With so many other excellent Scottish products available, including many fresh, healthy and affordable options, I would like to see others use the opportunity the Year of Food and Drink provides to showcase the variety and quality of produce Scotland has to offer.

“A staggering 120 million people passing through Scottish ports, stations and airports every year – that is 120 million opportunities to showcase our fantastic food and drink to overseas visitors and Scottish consumers alike.

“That is why I am writing to all of Scotland’s transport hub operators encouraging them to review their sourcing policies and commit both to providing healthy and affordable options and to increasing the Scottish food and drink on offer.

“Both of Scotland’s rail franchises - ScotRail and Caledonian Sleeper – will be using locally sourced produce to promote the best of Scottish food and drink and I want other operators to follow this good example.

“I challenge them all to consider adopting a pledge to show visitors and the wider public their commitment to playing a part in Scotland’s journey towards becoming a Good Food Nation.”

Head of Local Sourcing for Tesco, Sarah Mackie said: “We are committed to bringing our customers the very best of Scottish food and drink. With more than 180 suppliers from all across Scotland, we are pleased to have a longstanding commitment to sourcing and selling Scottish produce.

“We are delighted that through our Hogmanay event we can help raise awareness of the Year of Food and Drink and we look forward to continuing to champion the fantastic variety of products that are grown and produced across Scotland and available in Tesco stores in Scotland and beyond.“

Peter Strachan, Serco’s Managing Director of the new Caledonian Sleeper service, said:

“We’re really excited about the hospitality service that we are going to create for passengers on the Caledonian Sleeper. The service will be emblematic of all that’s best about Scotland and a key part of our plan is to promote and support small and medium-sized Scottish businesses by sourcing local products and produce from them.”