Appetite For Growth

Soaring retail sales of Scottish food and drink brands.

Retail sales of Scottish food and drink brands have soared by more than £500 million across Britain since 2007.

They were worth almost £2 billion in the year to May 2014, an increase of more than 36% over the seven year period, according to new Scottish Government analysis of grocery purchases across Scotland, England and Wales.

The popularity of top Scotch whisky brands and iconic products such as Mclelland Seriously cheese, Irn Bru and Tunnocks treats have helped fuel strong year-on-year growth. It comes after Scotland's food and drink industry smashed its ambitious export target six years ahead of schedule, and set a new goal of £7.1 billion by 2017.

Speaking ahead of the Showcasing Scotland event, where Scottish food and drink producers meet buyers from across the UK and the world, Scotland's Food Minister Richard Lochhead said:

"Business is booming for Scottish food and drink, not just here in Scotland but across these islands and around the world.

"Our global reputation for top quality food and drink with unrivalled provenance is driving up sales of iconic Scottish brands and products at home and further afield – as demonstrated by the strong and increasing demand for Scottish food and drink brands in England and Wales.

"This continued growth in these markets – especially in the past year as we get closer to the referendum – shows that consumers across these islands purchase our produce on the basis of taste and quality above all else.

"The phenomenal success of Scotland's food and drink sector is a direct result of the strong partnership between the Scottish Government, our agencies and industry - and we continue to do all we can to promote Scotland’s amazing array of food and drink to further sales in key markets. The Showcasing Scotland event is just one example of this, using the fantastic opportunity offered by the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games to promote Scotland as a land of food and drink.

"With independence, food and drink exports will continue to be a priority area for Scotland's international trade efforts. With our overseas representation dedicated solely to Scotland's own priorities we can promote our products to the world and tackle barriers to trade that the Westminster Government does not prioritise."