Press Releases

At the Trade Show, the Launch Gallery – the area for new young companies under two years old – has doubled to almost 30 small exhibitors with a huge range of innovative products from contemporary Scottish gifts, hats, slate boards, gift envelopes and jewellery. The total number of exhibitors is up by 8% with almost 400 exhibitors in total from gifts, homewares, textiles, clothing, jewellery and fashion accessories.

At Scotland’s Speciality Food Show, which is run in conjunction with the Trade Show, there are over 25% new exhibitors, with nearly three quarters of all stands being Scottish producers.

Mark Saunders, from Springboard Events who organise both Shows, said: “We have seen a large rise in new companies exhibiting, many of whom are taking the economic downturn as an opportunity to start their own business. There is also a definite rise in the quality of Scottish products, as customers – both tourists and locals, are becoming more discerning in what they buy. Feedback from retailers has shown that they’ve had a good year in 2009, partly due to the weak pound and partly due to a high demand for original, quality gift, jewellery, clothing and food items.

“The jewellery sector in particular is thriving with well over one third of all stands devoted to jewellery and fashion accessories. Many producers use this Show as a launch pad for their 2010 Collections ahead of the southern English shows.”

Emma Walker, Chief Executive of Craft Scotland: “The craft industry in Scotland has been flourishing over the last year with a rise in the number of small craft producers from 400 to almost 1600 in 16 months. This Show is a good platform for many to showcase their goods to retailers and buyers.”

Jamie Stewart from Juniper in Aberdeen said: “We have had our best year yet in 2009, with no signs of flagging sales, because of the recession. Jewellery sales in particular have been excellent and we are excited at sourcing new products at the Show as it is a great platform for good, small producers.”

New for 2010 are the Best Product Awards. All exhibitors are invited to submit their best products which will be judged by leading Scottish interiors journalist Heather McLeod and gift retailer Wendy Ross from The Old Mill Gift Shop and Ruby Red in Glasgow. She added: “Quality is all important in the goods we sell and we are finding that many of our customers prefer to buy locally for original products rather than hit the city centre.”

On the food side, there has also been a surge in emerging companies producing interesting and desirable foods and drinks, such as dairy free ice cream, hemp chocolates, rapeseed oil, artisan oatcakes and sloe based drinks.

Scotland’s Speciality Food Show, which is co-organised by the Guild of Fine Food, has seen that in tough economic times customers are more discerning about the quality and provenance of their food. Speciality food retailers across Scotland from delicatessens to farm shops have seen rising demand for quality Scottish goods. John Farrand from The Guild of Fine Food which co-organises the Show said: “We’re seeing many more Scottish exhibitors offering sophisticated smoked foods, artisan cheeses, luxury desserts and boutique confectionery. Government-backed trade development body Scotland Food & Drink, which wants to grow the country’s food industry from £10bn to £12.5bn by 2017, has described “premium, provenance and health” as its main areas of focus, and exhibitors at the SECC tick all of these boxes.”

Marion Murdoch from Taymouth Courtyard Shop in Perthshire said: “Our sales have increased by 20% last year with food items driving the business. We source as much as possible Scottish and local produce and this has proved particularly popular with tourists, who have been here in their droves last year.”

Catriona Farquharson from Finzean Farm Shop in Aberdeenshire said: “It is important to go that extra mile to stock innovative goods, both on the food and gift side to ensure sales keep increasing. It is also key to visit the main trade shows, like Scotland’s Trade Show and Scotland’s Speciality Food Show, as it is here that we can discover some really amazing new goods that can become bestsellers.”

With such a feeling of optimism among the fine food industry it looks likely that Scotland’s Trade Fair and Scotland’s Speciality Food Show 2010 will be good for exhibitors and retailers alike.

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Selected Exhibitors to Scotland’s Trade Fair Spring:
Snapdragon – stylish unique Scottish gifts and homewares
Picture Case – distinctive pictorial trolley suitcases
AnElephant Cant – unique waje - wall jewellery
Scott Inness – tea towels, bags and aprons with contemporary Scottish designs
Budzi Bags – recycled bags combining community groups in South Africa with Scottish materials
Giftelope – chic gift envelopes to take the hassle out of gift wrapping
The Islay Slate Company – Islay slate homewares
Lochcarron – Scottish textiles
Kit Heath – distinctive jewellery
Tartan Spirit – glass hearts and exquisite fine Scottish jewellery
Sheila Fleet – Orcadian jewellery
Scottish Fine Soaps
Tartan Twist – unique sterling silver Scottish jewellery

Selected Exhibitors to Scotland’s Speciality Food Show
Bellhaven Fruit Farm – gluten, dairy free ice cream
Scomac – whisky based sauces for cooking
Summer Harvest – rapeseed oil from Perthshire
The Fudge Kitchen – butter free fudge
Sloe Motion – alcoholic drinks made using sloes
Yorkshire Hemp – delicious chocolates containing hemp
Cookroom – gluten free cakes and baking
The Garlic Farm – all things made from garlic from The Isle of Wight

Note to Editors:
Scotland’s Trade Fair, Spring and Scotland’s Speciality Food Show – 24-26 January 2010, SECC, Glasgow
Sun & Mon – 9.30-5.30pm, Tues – 9.30-4.30pm
Organised by Springboard Events - Tel: 01877 385772
www.scotlandstradefairs.co.uk
www.scotlandsspecialityfoodshow.com