Indyref: Focus On Expanding Food & Drink Sales

Salmond: 'Yes vote will trigger global marketing campaign for food and drink sales.'

Alex Salmond has pledged to work with the food and drink industry following a 'yes' vote.

The First Minister has visited Eden Mill's new distillery in Guardbridge today.

Mr Salmond says the publicity generated by a Yes vote, the independence process and independence day itself would be an 'opportunity of a lifetime' which Scotland's food and drink industry must take full advantage of, and pledged to work with the industry on a new global marketing campaign.

The First Minister has hailed a report published this week by the Bank of Scotland which predicted 10,000 new jobs will be created in the next five years - with two thirds of companies surveyed expecting to increase their workforce.  This comes on the back of the latest food and drink statistics published last month which showed that turnover in the sector is now nearly £14 billion a year.

Scotland already has a £4.5 million Scotland Food and Drink export plan launched in March this year, to target export growth in seven key markets, with a target to grow exports to over £7 billion by 2017.

Commenting, Mr Salmond said:

"Scotland is one of the wealthiest countries in the world, and our booming food and drink industry is just one of our remarkable success stories in recent years.

"Scotland is currently in the international spotlight like never before, but the huge boost to Scotland's global brand generated by a Yes vote, and the transition to independence – will be the opportunity of a lifetime for our food and drink industry to extend their global reach even further.

"The Scottish Government has already been working closely with the food and drink industry to put in place Scotland's £4.5 million food and drink export plan.

"Following a Yes vote we will sit down with industry and Scotland Food and Drink to discuss how we can supplement that plan to take full advantage of the unprecedented global focus on Scotland, creating thousands of jobs in Scotland and boosting our exports."

Eden Mill brewery and distillery owner Paul Miller said:

"We are delighted to welcome the First Minister to Eden Mill to officially launch our new distillery and we are delighted his visit comes at this time in Scotland’s story.  We have every confidence that Scotland's food and drive sector will thrive with independence – and the news that the independence process and independence day itself will be used to provide a marketing push is also very welcome and will no doubt be a great success.

"Today we will present Mr Salmond with the cask which will contain the first whisky to be distilled.  We hope that it will mature in the same way as Scotland matures from the 18th of September onwards."