Scotland’s food and drink industry will be showcased to high-profile French chefs to raise awareness of the country’s world-class produce in a visit that began this week.

Six French chefs, some of whom to have gained a prestigious Michelin star, participated in a packed schedule that saw them visit producers across Scotland this week.

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The trip has been organised by Scottish Development International (SDI) – our global trade and investment agency and the international division of Scottish Enterprise, which is supported by the Scottish Government’s office in Paris, along with organisations across the Scotland Food and Drink Partnership.

Distinctively Scottish produce, such as meat, dairy, red fruits, seafood, spirits and other ingredients including seaweed, have been selected to highlight the provenance and quality of the country’s food and drink sector.

The schedule included a fact-finding mission to visit the Ballindalloch Aberdeen-Angus herd in Banffshire and a tour of the distillery at Macallan Estate, in Aberlour.

Sarah Millar, CEO of Quality Meat Scotland, said the organisation would showcase what it meant to be certified as ‘Scotch’. “Much like French consumers, Scots are increasingly interested in where their food is coming from and how it makes the journey from farm to fork.

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“Our red meat suppliers are dynamic, forward-thinking and passionate about producing sustainable, farm assured red meat – a high-standard of care that translates to the dinner plate.”

France is Scotland’s top international export destination country outside of the US, with an estimated £2.9bn of exports in 2019. Food and drink remains one of the largest and most important industry sectors in Scotland, with global exports of Scottish food and drink valued at £8bn in 2022.

Harriet Bernot, a SDI food and drink specialist based in France, said: “This inward trade visit is a wonderful opportunity to further enhance the already strong reputation Scotland’s food and drink produce has here in France. Each of the attendees on this trip are influential in the French culinary sector and have enjoyed stellar careers.

"This visit will not only raise the visibility of Scottish produce in the French foodservice sector, but also potentially deliver new export and sales opportunities in France for producers in Scotland.

“At a time when French consumers are increasingly interested in how their food is produced, this trip will allow the chefs to see first-hand the commitment our producers have to sustainability and why Scotland’s produce is rightly renowned for its quality and provenance.”