More than 75 of Scotland’s leading food and drink producers gathered in Glasgow on 14 May for the first-ever Showcasing Scotland UK – a one-day event that delivered hundreds of business-to-business meetings with influential buyers from across the UK.
Held at the DoubleTree by Hilton in Glasgow, the event was hosted by Scotland Food & Drink on behalf of the Scotland Food & Drink Partnership, bringing together suppliers and buyers in a fast-paced ‘speed-dating’ format. The evening prior featured an informal networking dinner, setting the tone for a bustling day of commercial opportunity.
This inaugural UK-focused event built on the success of previous Showcasing Scotland formats and aimed to unlock a projected £1bn growth opportunity in domestic markets identified in the national industry strategy, ‘Sustaining Scotland. Supplying the World’.
From retailers and wholesalers to chefs, hoteliers and online operators, buyers from across the UK connected with a diverse range of SALSA and BRC-accredited Scottish brands. The event generated high-value conversations and promising leads, demonstrating growing demand for high-quality, Scottish provenance-led products.
Attendee feedback on the event was highly positive, with 80% expressing increased optimism about their growth prospects compared to the previous year. Some companies projected potential sales of up to £200,000 as a result of Showcasing Scotland UK.
Stephanie Pritchard, head of customer relations & markets at Scotland Food & Drink, said: “Showcasing Scotland UK was designed to put the full strength and diversity of Scottish food and drink in front of the UK’s most influential buyers – and it delivered.
“We saw strong commercial conversations, new partnerships forming, and a real appetite for products rooted in quality, sustainability and provenance. The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, and it’s clear this event has created tangible opportunities for growth across the sector.”
Cabinet secretary for rural affairs, land reform and islands, Mairi Gougeon, added: “I was absolutely delighted to welcome such a vibrant gathering of producers and buyers to the Showcasing Scotland UK event in Glasgow. Our food and drink industry is vital to Scotland’s economy and it was great to see our producers showcasing the very best food and drink the country has to offer so well.
“Our food and drink sector is worth around £15bn to the Scottish economy, with over 17,000 businesses employing around 123,000 people, including many in rural and island communities. This new edition of the tried and tested ‘Showcasing’ series is an excellent opportunity to promote Scotland’s reputation for high quality food and drink within the wider UK market.”
The event forms part of a wider calendar of Showcasing Scotland activity, including regional events delivered across the country between January and April 2025. These events continue to spotlight Scotland’s best food and drink, champion regional producers, and create real business outcomes.
