IT is wonderful news and I am so proud for Scotland.

Too many people still snigger and think that in Scotland we exist on deep-fried food. But at the same time they are buying our food, our venison, salmon, seafood, more than we can supply. They also buy our prepared foods. We have a daughter who lives in Bavaria and I saw in her local town a shop that stocked Mackays jams from Angus.

We have so many food-related businesses, often second, third-generation family concerns round Scotland. Look at Graham’s Dairies of Bridge of Allan. Look at Macsweens with their haggis in Edinburgh.

They are all so effectively supported by Scotland Food & Drink, so ably led by Ray Jones. It is the combination of these wonderful firms and the backing they get from publicly supported bodies like Food & Drink Scotland and Quality Meat Scotland -- that’s what’s making the difference.”

 

  • Lady Claire Macdonald is an award-winning cook and food writer who owns the Kinloch Hotel and Restaurant on Skye, which boasts a Michelin star.