Home Special Interest

Special Interest

Random
Lagg Distillery Isle of Arran

Second distillery opens on Arran

Almost 25 years since it was founded, the Isle of Arran Distillery has opened its second distillery on the island.

Alternative range rolls out

BEL UK has rolled out its first range of plant-based alternatives to cheese with the launch of Nurishh.
Andrew McCaffery of Ecoveritas.

A triumph for common sense

Andrew McCaffery, global EPR director at Ecoveritas, responds to the latest DRS advice from the Scottish Government.
Quorn has relaunched its range emphasising that it has no artificial ingredients.

Quorn relaunches with a new look to change perceptions about meat-free products

New branding extols ‘high protein with no artificial ingredients’ as the meat-free brand capitalises on consumers moving to a healthier diet.
solar power farm

Scooping a sustainable prize

MACKIE’s of Scotland has launched an on-pack promotion that shines a spotlight on its sustainability activities.
DRS scheme applications

Creating a working DRS from scratch

The Scottish Government is seeking applications for a scheme administrator for the forthcoming deposit return scheme (DRS)

Family value pie packs

STRESSING that it’s a family business with family values, Bells Food Group reckons its products help bring families together at meal times. The Shotts-based company...
THE institution of the Burns Supper, now an annual celebration of the works of Scotland’s – and one of the world’s – great poets, Robert Burns, began in the very early 19th century. In 1801 some chums who were great admirers of the recently departed Rabbie, and who were also pretty fond of a dram, met on the fifth anniversary of the great writer’s death to wine, dine, toast his memory and recite some of his works. The following year the celebration moved to the date of the bard’s birthday 25 January and the rest as they say is history. The Burns Supper habit spread across Scotland. Within a few years a Burns Supper was being held in Oxford University. Today they are held all over the world. These days formal suppers can be quite posh with a multi-course dinner, a piper, a toast to the immortal memory of our great literary hero, a cheeky toast to the lassies, an even cheekier reply from the lassies, an address to the haggis and a recitation of Burns’ great narrative poem Tam o’Shanter. Other celebrations in homes and elsewhere are often much simpler. But virtually all will include two items that retailers can highlight in Burns season each year ... haggis and whisky. It’s sad that, because of marketing restrictions on alcohol products in Scottish off-trade outlets, it’s effectively impossible to cross-promote the two Burns Supper essentials or even to place them together in a display. But that’s all the more reason to promote them individually. Try highlighting haggis in your meat chiller, carry a few different sizes to suit the variety of sizes of households, use point-of-sale material to remind shoppers of Burns Night and the part that haggis plays in the celebrations. And you could make January a special malts month or simply arrange to focus on whisky generally in your drinks area. If you have a whisky deal that’s giving you a good margin highlight it within your drinks section. And creating a Burns theme in store, with tartan and maybe even pictures of the man himself, will help get the message across.

Power of the Bard

THE institution of the Burns Supper, now an annual celebration of the works of Scotland’s – and one of the world’s – great poets,...
SWA chief executive Colin Smith wants the Scottish Government to provide support for members to achieve their net-zero emissions targets.

SWA has bold net-zero goal

The Scottish Wholesale Association has set out ambitious plans to reach net-zero emissions by 2040 – and is calling on ScotGov to provide financial help for its members.
The Vegetarian Butcher Little Willies and What the Cluck range

One billion plant target

FMCG giant Unilever has thrown its weight behind plant-based meat and dairy alternatives

Eco focus in Glasgow

New store ‘Neighbourhood’ offers grocery staples ranging from flour and grains to body care and home cleaning products – without plastic packaging

Hip new Scotch

WHISKY has been made in St Andrews for the first time in 160 years and the distiller is introducing its limited edition range to the market
meats

Appealing to the youth

QMS campaign aimed at young adults

Quiche checks in – New gluten-free frozen product

WHEN consumer research identified quiche as the product most people wanted to see in a gluten-free format, manufacturer DS gluten-free made its move. Its new...
highland-game-Forestry2_

Game on for venison deal

TOP Scottish venison supplier Highland Game Ltd has secured a £13 million contract with Forestry and Land Scotland

Scottish firms take on new graduates

Scotland Food and Drink has announced the appointment of two graduates to major foodservice firms .
123...35Page 1 of 35
Scottish Grocer and Convenience Retailer
Scottish Grocer, Scotland’s leading magazine for the convenience retailing sector, has kept Scotland’s local food and drink retailers up to date for nearly a century. Renowned within the industry as a quality title, its knowledgeable and consistent independent editorial ensures it is a magazine that retailers can trust and rely on regardless of market conditions.
© 2026 Peebles Media Group Limited. All rights reserved