Food and drink fund boost for Highland Homecoming
Issued by VisitScotland
A month-long celebration of contemporary Highland culture has been given £30,000 funding from the Homecoming Scotland 2014 Food and Drink Fund.
Next year’s Highland Homecoming begins with the Inverness Highland Meting and culminates with Mod Naiseanta Rioghail - The Royal National Mod. The event was awarded money from the special £250,000 fund dedicated to promoting Scottish food and drink in 2014, announced by Rural Affairs Secretary, Richard Lochhead.
Highland Homecoming will see a huge amount of activity take place in the Highland Capital, from the traditional to the cutting edge. This will include the Inverness Highland Meeting 2014 with the spectacle of the World Masters Highland Games and celebrations surrounding the 150th anniversary of the Northern Meeting Park.
The Highland Homecoming will also include the Camanachd Cup Final, which attracts thousands of spectators and a number of still-to-be-announced events.
There will be something for everyone in this fantastic celebration of Highland culture and the influence it has had - and continues to have - across the world.
Seven events received money from the Homecoming Scotland 2014 Food and Drink Fund including The Forth Bridges Festival’s ‘World’s Biggest Sit Down Lunch’ (£25k), Whisky Month (£45k), John Muir Festival (£10k), Bannockburn Live (£50k), Ryder Cup Opening Concert (£20k), Highland Homecoming (£30k), and the Edinburgh International Science Festival (£20k)*.
As well as showcasing the best of Scottish produce at the events, the fund will provide event organisers with expert support in developing their food and drink offering through a series of one-to-one sessions and invitation-only workshops, delivered by food and drink consultants, Experiencing Scotland.
The workshops, which are taking place in Aberdeenshire, Inverness, Glasgow and Edinburgh, will ensure organisers benefit from expert advice and ideas for including fresh, local and seasonal produce from quality Scottish suppliers. Event organisers attended a workshop at Culloden Visitor Centre, Inverness, in August and a further workshop is planned at Gadie’s Restaurant, in Aberdeenshire, at the end of the summer.
Food and drink is a key theme for Homecoming Scotland 2014 and builds on the success of the Year of Food and Drink celebrations in 2010. The investment will help increase the number of food and drink producers involved in events and promote the distinct role that food and drink plays in shaping Scotland's cultural identity and heritage.
The Highland Council Convener, Councillor Jimmy Gray, said:
“We are all greatly looking forward to Homecoming Scotland 2014. There is something for everyone in the month-long celebration of our culture and heritage, including the promotion of two of our mainstay industries – food and drink.”
Richard Lochhead, Rural Affairs Secretary, said:
“Our magnificent natural larder continues to attract huge interest abroad and helps to market Scotland to the world as a Land of Food and Drink - an important ingredient as we encourage people to celebrate their Scottish heritage during Homecoming. Our local communities play an integral part in the food and drink industry and it’s great to be able to support them by bringing events to their areas.”
Mike Cantlay, Chairman of VisitScotland, said:
“From a magnificent haggis supper, to deliciously fresh salmon, to a tantalising glass of whisky, food and drink plays an integral part in Scottish culture. The country generates over £2million per day through food and drink tourism, so it is hugely important that we provide the very best products. Supporting local suppliers is key to ensuring communities throughout Scotland benefit from Homecoming events in their area and I, for one, can’t wait to get tucked in! ”
James Withers, Scotland Food & Drink Chief Executive, said:
“Scotland’s food and drink community is hugely excited about 2014. Homecoming events, alongside the Commonwealth Games & Ryder Cup, provide the opportunity of a lifetime to showcase Scotland as a ‘Land of Food and Drink’.
“With surging interest at home and overseas in Scottish produce, next year’s events will be a real culinary celebration, shining a light on our talented producers. We’re ambitious and we want to set a new benchmark for quality catering at big events.”