Thinking out of the box

Sector In Profile: Food and Drink

The Scottish food hamper has never been the same since Peter McLean’s Foodie Company burst on the scene in 2007.

Out went the standard, slightly tired assortment of shortbread and Dundee cake. In came a selection of locally sourced products such as artisan biscuits, organic chocolate and premium hand-made jams.

The premium goodie-boxes found an avid audience. But the downturn and last winter’s lengthy freeze put a big dent in Christmas deliveries.

For the meantime, Peter has turned his energies to the other elements of the business: the popular Foodies café, next to Holyrood, and an associated catering service. But he’s keen to side-step the home market slump by taking his hampers to an international audience hungry for Scottish produce.

“We know there’s a huge demand out there, but we need to harness it,” Peter explains. “For us, the main problem is getting food across borders.

“Some of the legislation is slowly being relaxed – for instance, China recently lifted a ban on smoked salmon. But customs rules are still very strict.”

Peter hopes to draw on advice or spare warehouse space from GlobalScots with experience in food export – perhaps in one of his key target markets, which include the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.