The food event in Inverness will provide 19 Scottish producers with an opportunity to pitch and secure lucrative listings in the Harrods Food Halls. Buyers along with the Harrods Executive Chef will be present at the event. The Harrods buyers have selected 19 high-quality producers to meet from across Scotland. In the list Nevis Bakery, Moray Seafoods Ltd, Loch Fyne Oysters and Caithness Beef and Lamb Ltd.

During the visit, the Harrods buyers will also take the opportunity to visit local producers, including Connage Highland Dairy, Delfour Hatchery and Benromach Distiller.

Gerry McGuigan, senior development manager at HIE, said: "This is an excellent opportunity for food and drink producers in the Highlands and Islands to have their products on sale at one of the most prestigious Food Halls in the world."

Harrods is meeting producers which include produce from Summer Harvest Oils, Coco Chocolate, Stoats porridge, Heather Hills honey, Highland Chocolatier, Chrystals Shortbread, Nevis Bakery, First Milk Cheese, Good Natured Fruit, Belhaven Fruit Farm, Shetland produce (fish and seafood), Rannoch Smokery, Findlaters Fine Foods (patés and pies), Yorkes of Dundee (meat) and Scott the Butcher.

Scotland Food & Drink is the lead organisation helping to deliver 'Sustainable Economic Growth' workstream of the Scottish Government's first National Food and Drink Policy. Its members, through involvement in one of four working groups, can help shape food and drink industry future in Scotland.


Marine renewables: the 5 key issues
Together with its partners HIE is committed to building the region into a world leader in the development and production of renewable energy and has a strong role in marine energy development and in the major advances being made in the Pentland Firth and Orkney waters.

"The vast potential of this area will deliver investment, jobs and opportunities to communities in and around Orkney and the Pentland Firth, benefiting the whole of Scotland," said Alex Paterson, (right) director of regional competitiveness at HIE.

"The Highlands and Islands are already leading the UK's drive towards a sustainable energy future. Some of the best wave and tidal resources in the world can be found off the north and north-west coasts of Scotland. Marine energy presents a huge opportunity for businesses in the Highlands and Islands."

The agency has actively contributed to the publication of the joint industry and Government  Marine Energy Road Map  which provides an up-to-date overview of the marine energy industry in Scotland and actions required to secure a contribution to 2020 targets from marine renewables.

HIE is also about to commission a current supply chain capacity study aimed at identifying for the offshore renewable sector, highlighting opportunities for the region's operators and inward investors to explore.

HIE is currently developing additional opportunities for businesses involved in every aspect of the energy industry to improve their order books by raising their profile through an energy industrycampaign, run jointly with the North of Scotland Industries Group (NSIG).