A delegation of Scottish food and drink firms has hit Singapore in a bid to make deeper inroads into one of the world’s wealthiest trading economies.
Organisations including Perthshire water firm Highland Spring, Carse of Gowrie crispmaker Mackie’s at Taypack and Livingston-based shortbread manufacturer Paterson Arran are amongst a string of firms taking part in the trade mission with support from Scottish Development International.
Singapore is now the country’s third-largest export market, with the value of trade there doubling in value to £330 million over the seven years to 2013.
Whisky dominates the figures, but other foodstuffs are on the up after climbing by a fifth during 2013 to £1.6m with seafood particularly successful. The country is also an important trading post as a hub for distribution to the rest of south east Asia.
Despite a relatively small population of just over five million, the tiny state imported food and drink products worth around $12bn in 2011 much of it re-exported to other markets like Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand.
Mackie’s, which has been exporting crisps to Singapore since 2010, said the trip would help it to better understand how it can tackle the market.
The company already works in partnership with Gan Teck Kar, importers and distributors of premium, natural and organic foods from all over the world, which channels products made near Errol to retail and foodservice customers across the region.
Commercial director Ronnie Wilson and marketing manager Rebecca Russell will join Gan Teck Kar’s stand at the Food&Hotel Asia event next week, and take part in SDI’s programme.
He said the event was a “fantastic opportunity” for the company.
“We aim to build the profile of our brand and products, and to gain a stronger knowledge of their customers’ requirements,” Mr Wilson said.
“The SDI Learning Journey programme will also be highly valuable in helping us to gain a greater understanding of the Singaporean market as we continue to develop our distribution in the region.
“SDI and Scotland Food & Drink have been significantly supportive in our efforts to establish Mackie’s Crisps as a global brand, and we will continue to work with them to drive further growth around the world.”
Industry organisations like the Scottish Salmon Producers Organisation, Quality Meat Scotland and Seafood Scotland are also taking part in the trip, alongside Scotland Food and Drink.
“Singapore is renowned for its fine dining and eating out culture with more than 6,700 restaurants and food outlets registered in 2012,” said SDI’s Singapore-based head of south east Asia Neil McInnes.
“Singapore also boasts the third highest per capita income in the world and as Singapore’s economy has continued to grow, so too have consumer tastes and we’re seeing a big demand for high-end premium products for both the retail and food service sectors.”
Scotland Food and Drink chief executive James Withers said the group would aim to capitalise on Asia’s growing demand for luxury and premium products, as well as an increasing focus on traceability.