North East Food Forum provides recipe for success

1st July 2015

Over 200 Aberdeen business figures had the opportunity to learn more about the region’s food and drink at an event co-hosted by Clydesdale Bank.

The North East Food Forum, which is designed to showcase local food and drink producers, was held on Tuesday June 30 at the Trinity Hall in Aberdeen.

Among the attendees were pupils from St. Joseph’s RC Primary School. After a tour of Trinity Hall pupils visited the Forum to sample local food and drink, including lemon curd from Aberdeen-based business All About Lemons. Other exhibitors included Granite City Fish, JG Ross bakers, Spey Valley Brewery, Cocoa Ooze and Suzie’s Spice Kitchen.

The event was jointly organised by Clydesdale Bank and FoodFest15. The FoodFest15 initiative is a national and international campaign to celebrate and promote the natural larder of Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire during the official Year of Food and Drink.

Clydesdale Bank is a long standing supporter of Scotland’s food and drink sector, with the Bank recently renewing its strategic partnership with industry organisation Scotland Food & Drink. It also enjoys a similar partnership with Scottish Bakers.

Marketing Director of VisitAberdeen Peter Medley, who is leading the FoodFest15 project on behalf of the campaign partnership said: “Scotland’s Year of Food and Drink is an excellent opportunity for local businesses. Taking part in the North East Food Forum has helped to showcase the story behind our food and the people who produce it, as consumers prefer to buy food with an explicit local provenance.”

Robin Hewitt, Senior Manager at Clydesdale Bank’s Aberdeen Business and Private Banking Centre, said: “We’d like to thank the food and drink businesses that took part in this year’s North East Food Forum, and all of those who attended the event.

“The North East is renowned for its fantastic natural larder. With 2015 designated the Year of Food and Drink in Scotland, there is a great opportunity to develop and grow our local food and drink sector.

"Our experience in the industry puts us in a strong position to support local food businesses as they seek to achieve their growth ambitions.”