Queen Margaret University has become the first higher education partner to join industry trade body Food and Drink Federation Scotland (FDFS).
Host to the Scottish Centre for Food Development and Innovation (SCFDI), QMU is a national leader in knowledge exchange linking food and health and the sustainability of the food chain, and in providing combined R&D and innovation space for the fast growing food sector.
The move represents a major step in realising the University’s ambitions as a centre of innovation and excellence in food development and will boost its work in improving crucial sector skills to ensure graduates are trained for the industry of the future. It also underlines QMU’s role in supporting the ambitions of the Food and Drink Industry Strategy Ambition 2030, which aims to grow the turnover of the industry to £30bn and identifies 3 pillars of growth – People and Skills, Supply Chain and Innovation.
In addition it will enhance the University’s ambition to support the UK and Scottish Governments’ policy priorities to address the challenges of tackling obesity and improving public health by working with industry to reformulate products and meet targets set for sugar and salt reduction.
Professor Tom Mercer, Director of the Scottish Centre for Food Development and Innovation at QMU said: “Our membership of Food and Drink Federation Scotland sends a clear signal to our industry partners that higher education has a pivotal role to play in driving innovation and growth in food manufacturing and new product development.
“Our research and education programmes along with our existing lab facilities and plans for an innovation park adjacent to the campus will form a national hub for sector developments in manufacturing, new product development and sustainability. We have a prime location that provides businesses access to national and international networks and expertise provided through QMU and the wider university network.”
FDFS Chief Executive David Thomson said: “On behalf of Food and Drink Federation Scotland I am delighted that Queen Margaret University has joined us as our first higher education professional affiliate. As the voice of food and drink manufacturing, we know the huge importance of higher education in our industry, delivering innovation and skills for a sector which has a real ambition to grow. This partnership will enhance the reputation of the industry as a career destination of choice as well as further raising awareness of the excellent facilities at Queen Margaret University.”
QMU’s proposals for an Innovation Park is the major project included within the Edinburgh City Region Deal to benefit East Lothian. Proposals centre around creation of two distinct areas on the land adjacent to QMU’s campus. As well as the park, a commercial hub will provide retail and leisure facilities for students, staff and the surrounding local communities.
New on-board food and drink services mean customers in the South of Scotland can now benefit from a warm beverage and a snack during their journey.
The ScotRail Alliance rolled out its at-seat catering service on trains between Dumfries and Carlisle for the first time this week.
Trains throughout the day will offer a menu of predominantly Scottish sourced goods, including:
• Hot drinks
• Light snacks
• Confectionery and cakes
• Soft drinks
• Beer, wine and spirits
Fifteen new hospitality stewards have been hired to support the roll out. The new staff are based at Carlisle and Glasgow Central station.
The introduction of the new food and drink service on the route follows the announcement of an additional 10 new services per day between Dumfries and Carlisle, providing an additional 1,500 extra seats per day to the region – which also came in to operation on Sunday 10 December.
Garry Clark, ScotRail Alliance Head of Customer Experience & Hospitality, said:
“We’re building the best railway this country has ever had – and that applies to all of Scotland.
“The introduction of our new food and drink service in the south is great news for those in the local community who use the railway, and is already proving very popular.
“We are making a major investment in the south of Scotland. Our new catering, the ten extra daily services, and the 1,500 extra seats for customers travelling between Dumfries and Carlisle, show our commitment to the region.
“We will continue to work closely with local communities, businesses and others to make the south of Scotland a great place to visit, work, live and study.”
The world’s first ever Food & Drink Business Improvement Development (BID) group from East Lothian, Scotland’s Food & Drink County (SFDC), is delighted to announce Queen Margaret University (QMU) is to host the BID’s administrative functions within the Business Innovation Zone at its Musselburgh campus.
In a move that further extends Queen Margaret University’s (QMU) support of The East Lothian Food & Drink Business Improvement District (BID), the SFDC team look forward to working more closely with Queen Margaret University’s researchers and students, strengthening their existing relationship.
Backed by East Lothian Council, the BID, which is the first of its kind in the world, was established in 2016 to drive sector growth by sharing resources and providing economies of scale in marketing, sales and distribution to food and drink producers across the county. East Lothian is home to one of Scotland’s finest malt whisky distilleries, Glenkinchie, and also produces renowned gin, beer and cider companies. With over 40 miles of coastline, the county boasts a plentiful supply of freshly landed fish and seafood and has seen success in less traditional produce including spices, oils, ice-cream and chocolate.
QMU is home to the Scottish Centre for Food Development & Innovation and has been an associate member and an active supporter of the BID since its inception. Other member companies are already engaged with students on marketing projects and have taken advantage of University expertise in food and drink innovation, research, product development and market testing.
Commenting on the latest move, Miriam Smith of QMU’s Research & Knowledge Exchange Development Unit said: “QMU hosts the office of East Lothian Council’s Business Gateway which, together with the Business Innovation Zone at the University encourages entrepreneurship and provides a catalyst for regional innovation-led economic growth. We are delighted to welcome the BID team on site where they will rub shoulders with students, researchers and academics in their field, who in turn will benefit from deepening connections with local businesses. It’s a win win and we look forward to developing our partnership with them.”
QMU is a national leader in knowledge exchange that addresses the fundamental relationships between food and health and the sustainability of the food chain in order to further the production of healthy, functional foods.
Chair of the BID Louise Elder, founder of Black & Gold Rapeseed Oil, said: “We are delighted to be basing the BID’s administrative functions within the Business Innovation Zone at Queen Margaret’s Musselburgh campus. These are exciting times for East Lothian and Scotland’s Food & Drink County suppliers as we work more closely with Queen Margaret University’s researchers and students, strengthening our existing relationship. It is an invaluable opportunity which will allow us to maximise the group’s exposure to QMU’s food and health expertise.”
For further information about Scotland’s Food & Drink County, please contact info@scotlandsfooddrinkcounty.com
Brodies LLP invite you to join their annual food and drink conference at Perth Racecourse.
This year’s conference theme will be growth, and will be held Friday, 03 November from 09:30 – 15:30.
We are witnessing a period of unprecedented prosperity in the Scottish food and drink sector, with exports valued at £1.2 billion for the first three months of 2017 – a year-on-year increase of £124 million. 2016 was a record year for food and drink and this trend shows every sign of continuing.
Scotland Food & Drink’s strategy to grow the sector to £30 billion by 2030 will require investment across all areas, including people, skills development, supply chain management and innovation.
Our conference will provide an opportunity to hear from industry experts on how they have grown their businesses and plan further expansion, whether by achieving their own strategic objectives or through greater industry collaboration.
Further speakers and the full conference programme will be announced in due course, but in the meantime we are delighted to confirm the following industry experts:
• James Withers, Chief Executive – Scotland Food & Drink
• Ton Christiaanse, UK Chief Executive – Brakes Group
• Dougal Sharp, Founder & Chief Brewer – Innis & Gunn
• Tony Lamb, Head of Food & Drink – Department for International Trade
RSVP here for your free place now!
The Scotland Food and Drink show is a two day event at Royal Highland Centre organised by The Scotsman Publications. The event will showcase vendors from across Scotland who are selling and sampling their products to thousands of visitors.
In addition the show will also feature Cooking Demonstrations, talks from Scotland’s top chefs and influential people within the sector, Masterclasses, a Children’s Area, and a Careers’ area.
The best thing about this show is that the tickets are FREE! Our transport partner, Lothian Buses are also providing free shuttle buses from Edinburgh City Centre to the venue all weekend!
This is a fantastic opportunity to be in front of the people of Scotland where you can showcase your business and engage directly with consumers of Food and drink.
The heavy marketing campaign will be seen by our print and digital audience over the whole of Scotland. Your brand will be part of this campaign.
Join us in showing just how important the food and drink sector is.
For more information on exhibiting at the event, please contact:
Lauren White
0131 311 7233
For information on sponsorship opportunities, please contact
Kylie Duncan
07803 505542
