Glitzy Macau – renowned as the world’s gambling mecca – has hosted a showcase of the finest Scottish meat and seafood under a pioneering partnership between Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) and Seafood Scotland.
Scottish fresh and smoked salmon, smoked haddock, langoustine, scallops, oysters and Scotch Beef were presented to a selection of restaurant industry representatives at an exclusive dinner in the autonomous Chinese territory.
The event – held at the City of Dreams resort – was attended by around 20 influential guests, including members of the Macau Chefs Association, importers and buyers.
It was part of a wider marketing push to secure export trade for Scottish business.
James Withers, chief executive of industry-led partnership Scotland Food and Drink said: “Scotland’s food exports have risen by 50% since 2007 and our reputation is growing around the world.
“Demand for premium products with a strong provenance story is rapidly growing, particularly in the Far East markets.
“By taking two of Scotland’s brightest export stars to Macau and letting industry leaders taste the quality for themselves, Scottish companies stand to benefit hugely.”
QMS head of marketing Laurent Vernet said it was the perfect opportunity to further develop the Scotch Beef brand in Hong Kong and Macau, adding: “This market is important as it allows Scotland to diversify its trade portfolio outside the eurozone and towards countries which offer encouraging growth potential.
Natalie Bell, trade marketing manager for the Europe, Middle East and Asia at Seafood Scotland, said: “As a thriving centre of industry and tourism, Macau has a high concentration of discerning foodies – making it an ideal location to showcase the best of Scotland.
“For the first time, Scottish seafood and beef are being staged together, a natural step in achieving our common goal – to increase Scotland’s export potential.”