Scotland is renowned for its fine food and drink sector, but there is no point in producing the most tantalising premium food products, if nobody knows your company exists.

 The Scotland’s Speciality Food Show, which is on at the SECC from January 22-24, is the only dedicated fine food trade show in Scotland and provides the perfect platform to showcase your products.

Viewing it from the other side of the exhibitors stand, it also provides Scotland’s farm and gift shops the opportunity to find out about the small, or new to the market, brands that are looking for retail outlets to stock their items.

With a wide variety of products including gift food, bakery, cheese, cooked and cured meats, chutneys, preserves, oil and vinegars, herbs and spices, confectionery, tea and coffee, beers, spirits and cordials, the fair is a must attend showcase for the speciality and gift food retailer.

With around 120 exhibitors, retailers come from all over Scotland and north of England, looking for new names to sign up.

Established names will also be present, such as Summer Harvest rapeseed oils, Cream of Galloway ice cream, The Fudge Kitchen and Walker’s Shortbread, proving that the show is continually providing the contacts needed to launch these wonderful Scottish products onto a wider stage, in the form of delicatessens, fine food retailers, farm shops, butchers, bakers, garden centres and the catering trade.

This year, 20% of all stands are from new companies, eg, Chocolati, an Ayrshire based chocolate company, Campbell’s Fudge from Biggar, Gran Stead’s ginger drinks, and Just Add Chilli from south Glasgow with a range of chilli dips and condiments.

As last year, there will be a Live Theatre area in the centre of the show where there will be a number of events to educate and entertain visitors and exhibitors alike.

Selected exhibitors can pitch their products to a team of expert retailers in a ‘Dragon’s Den’ style format, which is both entertaining and give the producer the feedback on their products. In addition, experts will also give seminars on aspects of food retailing and presentation.

The show coincides with Scotland’s Trade Fair Spring show, offering exhibitors the added attraction of more than 5000 gift buyers, many of whom stock gift food and drink products in their outlets. This is an added bonus for all speciality food and drink producers seeking fresh markets.

In tough economic times many companies need every opportunity to get in front of their customers. Scotland’s Trade Fair will provide the platform to showcase products to a wide array of buyers, from large department stores to small independent gift shops.

Particularly for new companies this foot in the market can play a vital part in their successful early growth. With a specially designated area for new, young companies – the Launch Gallery, with its distinctive stands and extra marketing support – the show provides the step on the ladder so many new, small producers need.

Launching to the trade for the first time are Scottish companies such as Beattitude, a new fragrance company from Dunfermline, Twiggd which produce quirky jewellery, fashion accessories and furniture all made from wood, Mini McGhee’s traditional hand-knitted lambswool blankets and knitwear and Cherith Harrison’s delightful homewares inspired by Scottish creatures.

The advantage of hosting the trade and food shows together allows retailers to browse both gift and food products together, as many outlets now stock a wide variety of products from perishable food items to larger gift and home-ware products.

This will be the fifth year that the food show has been running in its present format and it is the result of a joint venture between Scotland’s Food Show in Glasgow and the Speciality Food Show, in Edinburgh, which has created Scotland’s largest trade sourcing event for the speciality food market.

Mark Saunders, from Springboard Events, who organises the show says: "It is encouraging to see many new exhibitors at both the trade and food shows, especially from young, design-led companies, as well as from more established producers who have never ventured into the Scottish market.

"We seek to nurture entrepreneurial spirit in Scotland and provide a starting point for producers to get a step on the ladder of gaining stockists and outlets for their goods. The Launch Gallery is already fully booked with a wide mix of products that will appeal to retailers."

Best product awards

Visitors and exhibitors should keep an eye out for the best product awards, as exhibitors are encouraged to enter a product from one of the four categories – home and giftware; textiles; jewellery and fashion accessories; and the Launch Gallery, which will be judged on the opening day of the show.

With a prestigious panel of judges – these awards will showcase the best products in the show.

The award has more than just the kudos of winning with many of the 2011 winners seeing a large increase in sales and new leads on the back of it.

For more see: wwwscotlandsspeciality foodshow.com