From world-class beef and lamb to fresh fish and shellfish, traditional shortbread, Scottish oatcakes and malt whisky, the Highlands and Islands of Scotland has it all.
The food and drink industry in the Highlands and Islands generates turnover in excess of £1 billion per annum and supports around 25,900 full time jobs across the region. Some 1,900 businesses operate in the food and drink supply chain, ranging from the world brands of indigenous businesses such as Baxters of Speyside, Walkers Shortbread and global leaders in their field like Marine Harvest to the many small, innovative producers successfully supplying domestic and international niche markets.
Not only is the food and drink industry a significant economic driver with great potential for further development, but the quality of our food and drink products plays a key role in defining the Highlands and Islands of Scotland to the rest of the world.
The sector comprises farmers, fishermen, fish farmers, the food manufacturing businesses which process the primary food products and the businesses which provide the goods and services which are required up and down the food and drink supply chain.
News
27 October 2011
The results were announced today of a 2-year programme led by Seafood Scotland, in which 64 Scottish seafood companies were helped to add value to their products or processes.
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24 October 2011
Ten organisations and individuals from Argyll to Orkney are celebrating following the announcement of the winners of the prestigious Highlands & Islands Food & Drink Awards 2011 in Inverness last Friday.
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02 September 2011
Seven food and drink producers from across the Highlands and Islands are preparing to take their places at one of the biggest exhibitions of the year this weekend
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15 July 2011
Scotland Food & Drink, the industry leadership organisation, in partnership with HIE, hosted an exclusive 'Meet the Buyer' visit from Sainsbury's yesterday (14 July) at Cowan House in Inverness
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12 July 2011
Scottish Development International (SDI) has today announced a record increase in Scottish food and drink exports during 2010, with food exports alone breaking the £1bn barrier for the first time ever.
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Events
2012
Mar
5
05 March 2012 to 30 March 2012, Highlands and Islands
Deadline - 30 March 2012. goNorth 2012 are looking for your films.... This year goNORTH are going to be screening a full programme of curated features, which will encompass content from our production partners from across the UK, Europe and America.
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Mar
5
05 March 2012 to 30 March 2012, Highlands and Islands
The goNORTH live showcases deadline is fast approaching, get your entries in now!
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Mar
22
22 March 2012, Highlands and Islands
The Scottish Academy of Fashion has teamed up with Textiles Scotland to offer a series of continuing professional development (CPD) workshops.
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Mar
23
23 March 2012, Highlands and Islands
‘Awards for Young Musicians’ supports the UK's most talented young instrumentalists aged 5-17 years of age who, because of financial need, may be prevented from fulfilling their creative potential.
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Mar
26
26 March 2012, Highlands and Islands
This funding scheme to assist individuals to develop and extend their own professional visual art practice is now open for applications.
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Mar
27
27 March 2012, Glasgow SECC
The Social Enterprise Exchange 2012, sponsored by HIE, is the result of an exciting partnership, which brings together the two leading social enterprise events in the UK and Scotland respectively: Voice and S2S. This unique initiative between Social Enterprise UK (SEUK) and Social Enterprise Scotland, delivered in partnership with CEiS, will create the world’s largest social enterprise event in 2012.
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Mar
27
27 March 2012, Dunblane
The Scottish Manufacturing Advisory Service (SMAS) works with businesses throughout Scotland providing expert advice, one-to-one support, training and events for manufacturing businesses of all sizes.
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Mar
27
27 March 2012, Dunblane
Gain insights into some of Scotland’s most recognisable companies and discover how they are competing in a global marketplace at this specialist manufacturing event.
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Mar
30
30 March 2012, Highlands and Islands
Deadline 30 March. The Clore Duffield Poetry and Literary Awards, with a deadline set for 30 March 2012, are worth a total of £1m over five years, from 2011 to 2015, with individual awards ranging from £1,000 to £10,000.
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Mar
30
30 March 2012 to 01 June 2012, Highlands and Islands
Deadlines from 30 March to 01 June. The MEDIA Programme offers many different funding schemes, each targeting different areas of the audiovisual sector. A selection of calls are currently open
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Apr
17
17 April 2012, Inverness
This is a free event for companies interested in finding out about exporting to Ireland.
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Apr
24
24 April 2012 to 26 April 2012, Brussels
Following the success again of this year’s event in Brussels, Scottish Development International and Highlands and Islands Enterprise are again providing the opportunity for Scottish companies to be part of the Scotland Food & Drink Pavilion at the European Seafood Exposition 2012.
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Apr
25
25 April 2012, Highlands and Islands
Deadline – 25 April 2012. NESTA has just launched a new programme for arts and cultural organisations in Scotland.
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Jun
12
12 June 2012, SECC, Glasgow
The Scottish Technology Showcase 2012 offers an ideal opportunity for you to find solutions to your business challenges. This free event provides a platform for technology to enable your business to become more productive and more competitive, whatever your industry.
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Oct
26
26 October 2012, Highlands and Islands
Deadline - 27 April; 27 July & 26 October 2012. The Wellcome Trust is inviting organisations and individuals to apply for funding through its Arts Awards.
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