By Scott Wright
SCOTTISH food and drink producers which have lost major markets because of coronavirus are to be supported by a new platform linking them directly with consumers.
More than 120 businesses, including brewers, dairies and seafood producers, had joined the supportlocal.scot directory in time for its launch by industry body Scotland Food & Drink today. These include many producers that traditionally serve the foodservice and hospitality sectors and have shifted into online trading after outlets such as hotels and restaurants were closed under social distancing measures.
The new platform also aims to provide a service for consumers who are buying more online and looking to support local businesses during the pandemic. It allows consumers to browse Scottish food and drink suppliers and search by product type and location.
Lucy Husband, the organisation’s UK marketing director, said: “The impact of Covid-19 restrictions has changed the way we shop and forced many food and drink businesses to significantly adapt their approaches.
"While more and more of us are shopping for food and drink online, the appetite for high-quality, local products remains strong. In fact, our research shows that 70 per cent of Scottish consumers believe it is important to have locally sourced produce available, and 49% of Scottish shoppers also claim they would be willing to pay more for Scottish produce.”
Meanwhile, a drive has been launched to boost sales of Orkney food, drink and crafts online during the Covid-19 lockdown. Two pages on the Orkney.com website have been dedicated to showcasing goods from Orkney Food and Drink and Creative Orkney members.
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