Local Food Distribution a 'Real Commercial Opportunity'

Submitted by info@hilocalfood.net

8th December 2008

Enterprising solutions are urgently needed if more locally-grown food is to reach local dinner plates, according to delegates at the Highlands and Islands Local Food Network's 3rd annual conference.

Some 34 producers from across the Highlands and Islands attended the two-day HILFN event at Loch Insh, Kincraig near Aviemore.

The growers said that despite ever-increasing consumer demand, they lack efficient, cost-effective ways of getting their top quality meat, fish, cheese, vegetables and fruit to local dinner plates.

They described the situation as 'a real commercial opportunity' and called for enterprising individuals and businesses to step in to help hard-pressed producers plug the gap with initiatives such as dedicated vans, like the successful Food Link van in Skye, load share with existing distributors, and the creation of local trading hubs.

HILFN director Gilpin Bradley, of Wester Ross Salmon said: "Only 20% of food produced in the Highlands is eaten here despite proven consumer demand.

"The Scottish Government is fully supportive of local food being consumed locally, and the supermarket giants are giving more shelf space to local produce in response to demand.

"HILFN feels there is a real commercial opportunity to promote, sell and distribute local food."

Jo Hunt, HILFN chief executive added : "There are still lots of frustrated consumers out there. The issue for HILFN has moved on from how do we grow the produce to how do we get it to the customer, over as short a distance as possible."

HILFN has commissioned a feasibility study into the creation of a local produce distribution hub for the Highlands and expects the results in the spring.