A haven for food lovers, either the small farm shop owner looking for artisan products to add to their stock list, or for the discerning member of the public, is on its way to the SECC.

Scotland’s Speciality Food Show is the number one show for fine food and drink for Scotland and the north of England, attracting exhibitors from all over the UK with a range of interesting and exciting products.

With an estimated 3000 visitors over the three days it is the ideal place for delicatessens, fine food shops, farm shops, grocers and convenience stores to source some new and original products.

More than 25% of the show will be first-time exhibitors, many with completely new products, making it a launch platform for innovative food and drink ideas. Look out for show offers that are one off deals.

Many of the exhibitors are small, Scottish artisan producers who have identified a niche in the market. For example, the Cookroom from Stirlingshire produces gluten free cakes, Belhaven Fruit Farm produces guilt-free, fat-free ice cream and Perthshire’s Summer Harvest produces high quality rapeseed oil.

Peter Brown, owner of fine food shop and franchise business Berits and Brown said: “Fine food sales have held up well in 2009 with sales continuing to be healthy. Our franchise business has been growing rapidly and we hope by Easter 2010 to have seven or eight franchises across Scotland (and even into France) which is a doubling or our business.

“We find Scotland’s Speciality Food Show to be a great source of inspiration for new products, new ideas and the most relevant show in Scotland for the fine food market.”

Sheena Catto, from The Spey Larder in Aberlour, added: “2009 has been a satisfactory year for us with good numbers of tourists. We always visit the Scottish Speciality Food Show because it is essential to have a forum for fine food in Scotland, and we see some interesting producers.

“As always we like to see more new products and ideas as this ensures we as, a food retailer, have a good range and quality of stock.”

Many of the products have won Great Taste Awards from the Guild of Fine Food, such as The Garlic Farm’s Rhubarb and Pear Chutney, The SLOE Motion’s Whisky Liqueur, the Cookroom’s gluten free cakes and oatcakes from The Handmade Oatcake Company.

Springboard director Mark Saunders said: “Scotland’s Speciality Food Show is a hotbed of new talent and we have seen a particular increase this year in new, original exhibitors. For any food retailer wanting to offer its customers interesting, and delicious food or drink products it is a ‘must attend’ event.”

The event is organised by Springboard Events and the Guild of Fine Food. Scotland’s Speciality Food Show is run in conjunction with Scotland’s Trade Fair, allowing buyers from gift and tourist shops to access both shows.