Think Local food and drink events for West Highlands
Local food and drink producers and retailers are being invited to open meetings in Portree, Fort William and Poolewe to discuss opportunities for collaboration.
These are the first in a series of local meetings to be held throughout Highland as part of a Think Local project which aims to facilitate constructive discussion about better collaboration in the local food and drink sector.
Project Co-ordinators Sarah Allen and Davie MacLeod have been running online surveys to find out about business needs and to identify barriers to growth and they are looking forward to discussing the findings.
Sarah Allen said: “These meetings will give us the chance to feedback what producers have told us about supplying food and drink locally and also what retailers and the hospitality trade have told us about buying local food and drink. We have received over 100 responses to the surveys so far and the results are intriguing.”
The meetings will give participants the opportunity to discuss future events and support, and will investigate whether they are interested in developing a food and drink interface to drive forward activities. There will also be the opportunity for individual businesses to discuss free advice and training opportunities.
Councillor George Farlow is delighted that The Highland Council is supporting the project. He explained: “These meetings are an opportunity to bring together crofters and farmers alongside restaurateurs, retailers B&B providers and hoteliers to see if they want to pursue some of the issues raised. Highland Council will be looking at the findings in Spring next year to see how they can support local activities.”
The first three meetings take place on the following Tuesdays at 2-4pm:
19th November, Tigh na Sgire, Portree
26th November, Lochaber Rural Complex, Torlundy
3rd December, Poolewe Village Hall
Anyone who is interested in the local food and drink sector is welcome to attend. For further information please contact Davie MacLeod on 07867 646273.