Paterson-Arran-185g_Biscuit_Assortment

Cause for celebration

SHORTBREAD brand Paterson’s will celebrate a major milestone this year – its 125th anniversary

Hydration with fruit mixed in

JUICE brand Sunmagic has launched a new range of sparkling juice drinks for children. The Hydra Fizz range contains 50% fruit juice and is made...
Marking September’s Craft Beer Rising, left to right: Matt Johnson, Pilot Brewery, Leith; Pat Jones, also Pilot; Alessandra Confessore, Drygate Brewing Co, Glasgow; Graeme Martin, Tempest Brew Co, Kelso; Peter Stuart, Thistly Cross Cider, Dunbar.

City to host the craft

GLASGOW’S new Drygate brewery is hosting the Craft Beer Rising festival at its city headquarters next month, the first time the event has been...
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,...
range of free from products

Ramping up the free-from range

WHETHER it’s a gluten intolerance or an avoidance of meat and dairy, today’s consumer comes with varying dietary requirements with many seeking out specialist products.
Highland Spring Sparkling new packaging design

A sparkling new bottle

Scottish bottled water brand Highland Spring has given its sparkling range a packaging refresh.
Kantar

Better options for the planet

CONSUMERS across the globe are increasingly expressing their desire for products with less plastic packaging, according to data from Kantar.
Breakfast booming in Britain

Breakfast booming in Britain

BREAKFAST is big business – the UK cereal market is worth some £1.55bn. Scottish porridge and oats brand Hamlyns earlier this year said a recent...
Fake steak and ale pie from Delice de France

Fake steak pie

Delice de France has started off 2020 with the launch of the vegan ‘Fake & Ale’ and Saag Mangalore Square Pies

Sealing the deal

A trend towards clean eating has made consumers more conscious of food additives argues Nakd Wholefoods brand owner Natural Balance Foods. Marketing director Marina Love said:...

Free from sugar but full of opportunities

Sugar-free soft drinks are performing well in Scotland, with growth continuing at pace

It’s a cracker!

Aldi and Highland Fine Cheeses join forces to find the cheesiest joke Aldi Scotland and Highland Fine Cheeses have launched a hunt for the nation’s...

FSS says shape up or face tax

‘We’ve been missing the Scottish dietary goals for the last 15 years, despite the range of changes already made’. FOOD Standards Scotland – the country’s...
Tilda Lime Coriander and Pure Basmati rice

Rice is in a nice position

RICE is big business in the UK and it could get even bigger as more and more shoppers embrace global cuisine at home

Porridge goes gluten-free

Delicious Alchemy has launched instant porridge products free from gluten and from dairy produce. Its new Quick Cook Porridge Sachets and Porridge Oat Pots, available in...
Changing eating habits have led to the introduction of a wide range of haggis products including vegetarian and ready meal options.

Stock up for supper time

RETAILERS should look beyond the home to community groups who hold Burns Suppers