][1]The 5pm Dining blog has been gazing into its crystal ball for 2014 and has come up with some predictions. Unless you have been living under a rock then they may not be a surprise.
As you should know, next year is going to be a busy one for Scotland thanks to the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow; the Ryder Cup at Gleneagles, the second Homecoming and, who could forget, the independence referendum.
The country is going to be packed not just with lots of sports fans but also with media from all over the world. It is a fantastic opportunity for Scotland’s restaurateurs and producers to spread the word about this country’s tremendous food scene.
Scottish provenance pays
The Scotland Food and Drink organisation are keen to involve all those involved in producing, selling and serving Scottish food. They point out that it pays to shout about Scottish provenance.
Research by Scottish Enterprise shows that businesses and events providing Scottish food help to significantly enhance their visitors’ experience and typically enjoy 20% higher levels of sales than those that don’t serve clearly labelled Scottish food. ‘Capiche?’ as they say in Cumbernauld.
It is estimated that visitors to Scotland in 2014 will spend almost £33m on food and drink at events. Scotland Food and Drink want to help Scottish businesses earn a significant slice of that revenue.
Practical advice
They can do this in a number of ways. They can help restaurants source Scottish produce and teach your staff how best to sell it. Click here to download At Your Service. A practical guide for service staff, it is packed with useful facts about Scottish produce; how to serve it and what diners from different countries expect of their waiting staff.
Looking at the bigger picture, click here to navigate to pages offering advice on how to supply products to major events; profit from event catering and get involved with the Scottish Food Provenance Village.