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Scotland has some of the best food and drink in the world. Our whisky is the stuff of legend, Scottish seafood is a global delicacy and innovative manufacturers are transforming traditional produce into contemporary products.

One  in five of Scotland’s manufacturing jobs are in the food and drink sector – with exports hitting an all time high in 2011.

And the Scottish Government think the best is still to come. In a few weeks time the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Richard Lochhead will unveil Scotland’s Food and Drink 2014 Action Plan.

He says it will help ensure Scotland’s food and drink will benefit from the international events hosted in Scotland over the next few years, including the 2014 Commonwealth Games and the Ryder Cup.

The Scotsman Conferences offers you the exclusive opportunity to hear the Cabinet Secretary explain the government’s thinking behind the plan. Join us on Wednesday 5th September to learn more about the plan to showcase Scotland’s world class larder and how it can help your business.

Book now for a place at Scottish Food and Drink 2012. Places are limited, so book now to avoid disappointment.

Agenda:
09.00 Registration, coffee & home baking from The Scottish Cafe & Restaurant

09:30 Introduction by the chair
Stephen Jardine, Founder, Taste Communications

Session 1: Setting the scene – what does success look like
09:40 Keynote address with Q&A
Richard Lochhead MSP & Cabinet Secretary for Environment & Rural Affairs

10:00 This is how we achieved success – the trials and tribulations, the lessons,
what we want from government/policy makers/buyers
Robert Graham, Graham’s the Family Dairy

10:20 Farming, Supermarkets and Local Produce
Sarah Mackie, Head of Local Sourcing, Tesco

10.40 Question & Answers

10.50 Carina Contini, The Scottish Cafe & Restaurant, introduces brunch

11.00 Networking Brunch from The Scottish Cafe & Restaurant

Session 2: Innovation that leads to success
11.45 The sector, successes – what more needs to be done – by whom
James Withers, Scottish Food and Drink

12.05 Panel discussion and Q&A
Maggie McGinlay, Scottish Enterprise
Tony Stone, Founder and MD, Stoats
David Whiteford, Chairman, Food and Drink Hub Scotland
Graham Blair, Area director (North Scotland), Bank of Scotland

12:30 The future: what we can learn from our most successful product
Neil Boyd, Commercial Director, Ian Macleod Distillers

12.50 Closing remarks

13.00 Close

Please note the agenda is subject to change

The Food and Drink 2014 Action Plan is being created by Scotland Food & Drink in partnership with the Scottish Government, Scotland’s enterprise agencies, VisitScotland and their events directorate EventScotland, and is the start of an ambitious journey to secure maximium economic value for Scotland’s already burgeoning food and drink sector: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases/2012/08/foodanddrink01082012

Information & Fees

We are pleased to offer the best value conference rates in Scotland:
Rate: £99 + VAT (10% discount for previous Scotsman Conference delegates)

Fees include refreshments, networking brunch from The Scottish Cafe & Restaurant showcasing the finest Scottish seasonal produce and exclusive access to the Post Conference Reports.

For more information please email conferences@scotsman.com or give the team a call on: 0131 620 8656

To book your place please click here.

Key Speaker: See speaker list above
Venue: The Scottish Cafe & Restaurant, Scottish National Gallery, The Mound, Edinburgh (Map Details)
Time: 05 September 2012, at 09:00