Insights from the Scotland Food and Drink Summit

Anna Campbell, development manager at HIE’s Lochaber, Skye, and Wester Ross team reflects on her visit to the Scotland Food & Drink Excellence Summit in Glasgow yesterday (Wednesday 9 October). 

It was great to attend the summit this week, along with my colleagues in HIE’s tourism, food and drink team. 

As a Development Manager for the Lochaber, Skye, and Wester Ross area, I work closely with producers such as the Isle of Skye Sea Salt Company. This event was an invaluable opportunity to deepen my understanding of the sector, learn from the experiences of businesses across Scotland, and gain insights from industry experts.

The summit gave Scotland’s food and drink community an opportunity to showcase the innovation and passion that drives our industry. It was inspiring to see so many dedicated professionals coming together to celebrate our achievements and explore new opportunities for growth.

One of the highlights for me was the headline speaker, The Hebridean Baker. His talk on the importance of creating a compelling brand story, image, and tone of voice resonated with me. He highlighted the benefits of finding the right brand partnerships, which can amplify your reach and impact. His insights were both practical and inspiring.

Another highlight of the summit was the final session of the day, titled ‘Investment for Growth’. This session featured a panel discussion with both investors and business leaders, offering a comprehensive look at what it takes to secure investment and drive business growth. The panellists shared their experiences and offered valuable advice on identifying the right investors. 

They stressed that the ideal investor brings more than just capital to the table; they also bring experience, skills, and a network that can help your business thrive.

Throughout the day, I got to network with a wide range of industry professionals. These interactions were really valuable and helped give me new ideas that I can bring back to my work with producers in Lochaber, Skye, and Wester Ross. It was particularly rewarding to hear success stories from other regions and to see how businesses are innovating and adapting to the challenges and opportunities in our sector.

The summit was a reminder of the strength and resilience of our industry. I am grateful for the opportunity to have attended and look forward to applying the insights and connections gained to support the continued success of the food and drink businesses I work with.

I was delighted when HIE invited me to attend the summit, taking advantage of one of the free spots offered by Scotland Food & Drink for under-25s. Discover more about the summit here. https://foodanddrink.scot/events-and-membership/events/the-excellence-summit/

Anna Miller, HIE’s Head of Tourism, Food and Drink, attended the Food and Drink Excellence Awards last night after the summit. 2024 Winners | Scotland Food & Drink (foodanddrink.scot)

It was great to hear that businesses in the Highlands and Islands were amongst some of the crowned winners including 8 Doors, Highland Liquor and SHORE. The Highland Food and Drink trail was also Highly Commended in the regional food category. Congratulations to all the winners and those who were shortlisted from the Highlands and Islands for their products, which were recognised as the best in Scotland.