Scottish food in £8.3M North American export deals
Scottish products will be sold in supermarkets and restaurants across the US and Canada, after food and drink companies signed new export deals, it was confirmed last week (April 7).
First minister Nicola Sturgeon revealed the news at a food and drink showcase in New York last week. Sturgeon said: “Scotland’s food and drink sector remains one of our strongest export markets and the latest figures show how important North American business is to our producers.
“The news that Scottish business is thriving and securing multi-million pound contracts is fantastic, and it is especially encouraging to see so many independent businesses doing so well. The links between Scotland and the US have always been strong, and today’s [April 7] announcement shows that they will continue for years to come.”
‘Multi-million pound contracts’
Manufacturers gaining new North American contracts included Associated Seafoods, Eden Mill Distillery and Mara Seaweed.
Associated Seafoods predicted its North American business would grow to £4–5M over the next 18 months. Export sales were particularly increasing in Canada.
Eden Mill Distillery, which began exporting craft gins to the US in August last year, predicted US export sales of £1.4M over the next three years.
Mara Seaweed forecasted its newly launched Mara Seaweed Butter would record US export sales of £300,000 by the end of this year, with a further £500,000 from foodservice next year. The edible seaweed producer planned to launch its existing range in the US later this spring. It predicted its total US exports would grow by 300% this year.
‘Going from strength-to-strength’
Scottish Enterprise chief executive Lena Wilson said: “Our food and drink industry is going from strength-to-strength and it is really encouraging to see continued export success in North America. We have been working with our food and drink partners across Scotland to open doors for companies with international ambitions.”
Meanwhile, last month Scotland Food & Drink launched a £10M strategy to double the size of its sector to £30bn by 2030. The strategy – Ambition 2030 – aimed at cementing the food and drink industry as Scotland’s most valuable sector.
Scottish businesses projecting North American export success
- Associated Seafoods – Exports would grow to £4-5M over next 18 months
- Eden Mill Distillery – £1.4M of gin exports in three years
- Orkney Smoked – £1.6M in three years
- Mara Seaweed – Export sales to US to grow 300% by end of 2017
- First Milk – fastest growing cheddar in the US last year
- LoSalt – 11% annual sales growth in the US
- Mackays – 11% annual sales growth in the US
- Innis & Gunn – retail sales to exceed £6M
- The Scottish Salmon Company – US sales doubled in first three months of 2017