Information Bulletin
10 January 2006
Shetland to Host First Food and Drink Conference
A conference to be held in Shetland aims to help develop the isles’ reputation as a source of excellent food and drink. It is hoped that the event, the first of its kind, will attract food producers, buyers, operators of restaurants or cafés or anyone who is interested in entering any of those businesses. It will take place at the Clickimin Leisure Complex on Friday 2nd and Saturday 3rd February and there is no charge for attendance.
Councillor Drew Ratter, the Shetland Islands Council Economic Development Chairperson, who will chair the conference, said:
"A good proportion of what Shetland produces from land and sea is first-class and some of it already finds its way into the most demanding markets. However we ought to be able to make more of what we have. Despite the quality of what we can offer, it doesn't have a high public profile. It's not that easy to find Shetland produce, labelled as such, in the highest-quality UK mainland outlets. I hope the food conference will increase our understanding of the market, which is absolutely fundamental to making progress. Customer expectations have been changed a great deal in recent years and the focus is unquestionably on quality, on integrity and on buying from sources that people can trust. We have to listen to those needs. The days of believing that folk will buy whatever we catch or grow and never ask any questions about it are, quite simply, over."
He went on:
“That’s one major point of having this now. The other, and maybe more important thing we want to do, is to make a food industry a practical possibility. That’s why we asked Professor Kevin Morgan from Cardiff University, who is acknowledged as the UK’s top expert on getting good food on the public’s plate, to do a major piece of work for us. It’s called supply chain analysis. In more day to day language, that means looking at what kind of facilities and contracts and so on need to exist to allow people who want to start a food business a fair chance. Professor Morgan will be revealing the first findings from his work, based on research undertaken last year. I hope we shall end this conference knowing what we need, and with a timetable for getting it!”
Other conference speakers include Patrick Holden, who has been Director of the Soil Association during a decade in which turnover from organic produce in the UK has risen from £50m to £1.3bn. Also from the Soil Association is Pam Rodway, an organic farmer and cheese-maker from Morayshire, who has championed the use of fresh, local and organic food in Scottish schools. David Beattie from Enterprise Food Group will talk about the links that can be made between small producers and large retailers and Robert Murray of Aquascot will outline his firm’s experience of partnership with Waitrose.
Several case studies will highlight the experience of businesses in Shetland and Orkney. These will be presented by Dave Parham of The Handmade Fish Company, Ronnie Eunson of Uradale Farm, Karl Simpson of the Shetland Livestock Marketing Group and Alan Craigie, who runs the highly-regarded Creel Restaurant in St Margaret’s Hope. Fiona Dally will discuss the work and aims of the Shetland Food and Drink Group and Neil Grant, SIC Interim Head of Economic Development, is to present the Shetland Seafood Project consultation.
Seminars will discuss the main themes of the conference, covering how best to develop the local food sector; how to encourage the use of local food in the public sector and in tourism; hospitality and food service; and food quality assurance.
“It won’t just be talk, either”, said Drew Ratter. “There will be some good food on display too. We’re having demonstrations by Masterchefs Kevin McGillvray and George McIvor and the one on the Friday evening will be open to the public as well as to conference delegates. Another practical outcome will be the setting up of a Shetland Slow Food Convivium, one of an international network of such groups. The Slow Food movement has taken off in the last few years and it’s all about celebrating food that is locally grown or reared and is prepared with care and respect. We’ve good reasons to do that in Shetland.”
The conference is being organised by the Shetland Islands Council Economic Development Unit. A leaflet containing a registration form is being sent to everyone on the Unit’s mailing list but anyone who requires one should telephone SIC officer Nicola Halcrow on 01595 744944 as soon as possible, since places are limited.
“Anyone in Shetland who is involved in any aspect of food production should consider attending”, said Mr Ratter. “I hope that it will encourage local producers to meet the demands of the most discriminating consumers. In some respects, we need to raise standards. We need to be innovative, too. But we also need to be better at getting our message across. The conference will help us tackle these issues and I think it’s going to be a very worthwhile event”.
Ends ……
Notes to Editor
Shetland Food and Drink Conference Chair, Drew Ratter will be available on 01806 544 295 or 07768 551 952 for interview on the event.
Registration forms for the conference can be obtained from SIC officer, Nicola Halcrow on 01595 74 4944.