An ambitious bid to position Perth as the home of Scotland’s food and drink sector has been launched.
The city and surrounding region already boast a huge number of innovative small businesses, artisan producers and international brands.
Many are at the forefront of efforts to corner new markets, such as China, and send their products around the world. The official launch of the new Perth Food and Drink Park is an attempt to take that success even further.
Providing fully serviced sites in support of businesses, it will be the only dedicated industrial food and drink park in Scotland.
It is being developed on a site at North Muirton and will offer 16 acres of serviced development plots in a bid to attract new and innovative firms to the city.
Plans are also being developed for the creation of a food and drink innovation hub in the park, which could provide flexible space, hot-desking facilities and a demonstrator kitchen.
Perth and Kinross Council enterprise and infrastructure convener John Kellas said: “Perth Food and Drink Park is a really exciting opportunity to help further improve the reputation for quality food and drink production.
“We already have many world-renowned producers working within the area who can attest to the advantages of working from within Scotland’s heartland.
“The council’s commitment to this industry is demonstrated by the investment in industrial land to develop a unique food and drink park designed to meet the requirements of producers of all sizes.”
Finance Secretary John Swinney added: “Perth has strong credentials in the food and drink industry, providing a home to around 130 companies and employment to almost 1,900 people.”
The park’s official launch took place in Perth Concert Hall immediately after the Going Places with Scotland’s Food and Drink Industry Global Excellence Conference, where Environment Secretary Richard Lochhead described food and drink as “Scotland’s biggest success story”.
Celebrated chef Albert Roux also praised the quality of the country’s offering. The conference brought together a host of top speakers and producers, many of them linked to businesses within Perth and Kinross.
They heard that the sector is booming and that there are huge opportunities for businesses willing, able and creative enough to take advantage of that.
Mr Lochhead said: “Food and drink is Scotland’s biggest success story. It has broken all kinds of records in recent years.
“More Scots than ever are wanting to enjoy what they have on their doorstep and countries around the world are clamouring for Scottish produce. Scotland is becoming one of the world’s leading food and drink nations.”
Michelin star chef Albert Roux has developed a keen appreciation of the nation’s food since moving to the UK.
The French restaurateur has created dishes for Andy Murray’s £2 million hotel in Dunblane, with Chez Roux at Cromlix set to showcase Scottish produce.
“When I first came to Scotland I realised that you had some fantastic ingredients but you didn’t seem to know yourselves just how good it was,” he said.
“That’s now changed and you have to get to market early to get the best. There are so many unique ingredients on offer.”
Mr Roux said he was looking forward to the opening of Cromlix House on April 1.
He praised the commitment of both Andy and Judy Murray, adding: “We have created 25 jobs and I am very proud of that.”