Distillers toast Scottish events industry

A groundbreaking conference for craft distillers heads up a month of trade events in expected to boost the Scottish food and drink sector. On 5-6 October 2015, The UK Craft Distillers’ Conference, which is run by the Scottish Craft Distillers Association (SCDA), will take place in Atholl Palace Hotel in Pitlochry. The event will be followed, 6-8 October, by ‘Showcasing Scotland’ in Gleneagles – the largest meet-the-buyer event of its type in Scotland. Invest in Perth, the inward investment campaign of Perth and Kinross Council, helped secure the SCDA event through ongoing business support and also played a pivotal role in supporting Showcasing Scotland. Tony Reeman-Clark, chairman of the SCDA, believes the groundbreaking conference will help transform the prospects of small distillery firms. “Our group of craft distillers are, by their very nature, extremely passionate about their products and the resultant spirits are some of the finest in the world. “It is marvellous to see these very small firms help revive ancient traditions that are so important to Scottish food and drink culture and in doing so provide skilled jobs for young people in Scotland. “It is essential for the future of these businesses that they share expertise and ideas, build relationships and secure a rich future for the industry – something this conference will certainly help to achieve.” “It is extremely refreshing to encounter such proactive support from the Invest in Perth team who clearly understand the importance of the sector to the region and have been fantastic throughout.” The conference programme will include a gala dinner, where the results of the first UK Craft Spirits Competition will be announced. Councillor John Kellas, Convener of Perth and Kinross Council’s Enterprise and Infrastructure Committee, said: “These conferences are extremely beneficial to Perthshire. “Not only does the local economy get a notable boost from the influx of visitors, but Perthshire’s rich heritage of food and drink producers will have the opportunity to meet influential buyers capable of driving investment into their businesses.”