CONSUMERS are increasingly opting for traditional Scottish produce such as shortbread and tablet, according to Asda, which said it expects sales of products from north of the border to grow by 35 per cent this Christmas compared to a year ago.

 

The supermarket, which currently stocks more than 1,000 local Scottish lines and works with more than 100 local suppliers in Scotland, said local festive biscuits and sweet treats, from brands like Border Biscuits, Mrs Tilly's and Deans of Huntly, are proving popular, up by 29 per cent. Sales of shortbread were up by 65 per cent and fudge 24 per cent.

Overall the retailer said it has grown its local sourced range by 17 per cent since 2013.

Brian O'Shea, Asda's regional buying manager for Scotland, said: "Our research shows that over half of shoppers are now buying local food in their weekly shop.

"We will see Scots buying more local product this Christmas than ever before and with the ever increasing depth and breadth of flavours we have available, they'll be something to suit everyone's sweet tooth."