New brand move aims to make Royal Deeside food world famous
group looks at ways to market area as a year-round mecca for food lovers
Published:
Farmers, hoteliers and shop owners attended a workshop to look at developing a new brand promoting Royal Deeside food.
The Royal Deeside and Cairngorms Destination Management Organisation (DMO) wants to promote the quality produce worldwide and is looking at ways to market the area as a year-round destination for food lovers.
Improving the links between food producers and places that sell the finished product is one of the group’s priorities.
Twenty-five representatives from food makers and sellers throughout the region shared ideas at a meeting at Milton Restaurant, at Crathes, yesterday.
DMO Management Organisation chairwoman Claire Bruce said: “There are a number of quality food producers in the area and it’s about trying to maximise and promote the use of them. There is a feeling food is not promoted enough in this area. Perhaps chefs don’t use it and visitors don’t know about it.”
The DMO is compiling a list of all food producers and outlets in the region to get a better picture of what is available.
It hopes to enlist more local firms to join the initiative and look at ways of producing a collective Royal Deeside food brand.
Ken Howie, who runs the Cairnton Aberdeen-Angus beef enterprise at Lumphanan, said: “It’s important to promote food, particularly to folk on the front line of the tourism business.
“We just need to remind them sometimes that what we have got on our doorstep is really second to none.
“We are not really very good at blowing our own trumpet about the tremendous environment we have got here.”
Ideas to promote the industry include introducing special events and festivals outside the main summer season and more education about local food in schools.
Rapeseed oil producer John Sorrie, who runs Ola Oils at Inverurie with his wife Connie, said the meeting was very positive.
He added: “We all agree it’s very important to get a branding for all the different types of produce the area has.
“People don’t appreciate how much is produced and the quality of the produce literally on our doorstep.
“It’s just a case now of taking the next step forward.”
Among the firms promoting local food producers is Deeside Hampers, on Dinnet Estate.
The contents of its hampers are sourced from producers all within 40 miles of each other and packaged using sustainable materials.
Readers' Comments