An MP is rallying support in his bid to take Moray’s finest food and drink to the world.
Angus Robertson MP has reiterated his call for businesses and other organisations in the area to give the regions food and drink the marketing it deserves.
Mr Robertson met with distillery bosses at Chivas Brothers and Diageo last year to discuss ways to boost Moray-Speyside’s visitor trade.
The MP for Moray has since reached out to Moray Council, Moray Chamber of Commerce and Moray-Speyside Tourism to discuss what progress has been made in changing the way the important market is promoted.
Mr Robertson said: “The Moray Council, Moray Chamber of Commerce and the Moray-Speyside initiative has been making great progress, and I believe with senior management commitment and involvement in the next stage of common efforts we can initiate a step change.
“I look forward to the opportunity of all key public and private sector partners to participate fully in the common endeavour of matching our status as a world class food and drink region with world class coordination and promotion.”
Mr Robertson and Moray MSP Moray Richard Lochhead and met with council bosses last week to discuss how to take things forward.
He has enlisted Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) to bring together the region’s key public and private bodies to discuss further progress made.
David Oxley, HIE area manager for Moray, said: “Angus Robertson has been in touch with us, and we are well aware of his considerations in that respect.
“We are already involved in a lot of initiatives to support Moray’s food and drink sector through Moray-Speyside Tourism, Moray Chamber of Commerce and the Spirit of
Speyside Whisky Festival, and we are delighted to take an interest going forward to promote the area.”
More than half of the Scotch whisky distilleries owned by Diageo and Chivas Brothers are located in the area.
Last night, a spokesman for Diageo said: “Speyside is a key region of Scotland for our Scotch Whisky business and we are proud to promote the area around the world through our leading brands.
“We are always happy to engage positively with local partners and stakeholders on the promotion of Scotch, Speyside and Scotland to the world.”