Scotland Food and Drink launched the platform in late April to help producers, wholesalers and retail outlets reach as many local consumers as possible amid the Coronavirus outbreak, which has decimated many businesses’ access to their usual marketplaces.
The Scottish Suppliers Directory now includes Busta House, The Island Larder, Lerwick Brewery, Mackenzie’s Farm Shop, Sandwick Baking Company, Shetland Farm Dairies, Thule Ventus, Uradale Farm and Whalsay Made. They are among 300 businesses nationwide to sign up, with more than 3,500 Scots having used the directory to source products during recent weeks.
The directory gives businesses access to promotion through Scotland Food and Drink’s PR channels, including radio publicity and a four-week digital advertising campaign targeted at consumers beginning towards the end of May.
Shetland Food and Drink manager Claire White said she was delighted nine of the organisation’s members had already signed up in under a fortnight. She encouraged others to follow suit.
“This new directory is a brilliant tool to make it easier than ever for folk to find out what fresh produce is available, and to shop local and support businesses in their own communities,” Claire said.
A Scotland Food and Drink spokesman said: “As more people find the supermarket shelves empty and the slots for home delivery booked up weeks in advance, consumers are looking for new ways to buy food and drink in their area.
“There are a lot of folk who already had online shops but they need to sell much more product this way just to stay afloat.”
Scottish rural secretary Fergus Ewing said: “The global crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic has presented significant challenges for businesses across the food and drink sector. In these difficult times, we have also seen the sector’s resilience, creativity and innovation.
“Nearly 300 businesses have now registered to be part of the new Support Local website, giving people the chance to buy fantastic locally sourced and produced food and drink direct at the click of a button from home.“
- Anyone interested in joining the scheme can find out more at www.foodanddrink.scot/support-local/