SCOTLAND’S seafood industry has been showcasing its produce to French buyers at one of the world’s largest wholesale food markets, as exporters look to strengthen trading links ahead of the lucrative Christmas season.
Fourteen Scottish seafood businesses took part in a special overnight event at Rungis International Market in Paris on October 9, bringing everything from salmon and trout to shellfish and whitefish directly to French wholesalers, retailers and foodservice professionals.
The event, La nuit de l’Écosse (Scotland Night), was organised by Seafood Scotland, Scottish Development International (SDI) and Scottish Quality Salmon Label Rouge.
Officially opened at midnight by Jim Fairlie MSP, Scotland’s Minister for Agriculture, Marine and the Islands, the showcase continued until 4am to coincide with the market’s early-morning trading hours.
Among the participating companies were Bakkafrost Scotland, Loch Duart, Mowi Scotland, Wester Ross, PDK Shellfish, Scot Live, Simpson Fish and The Scottish Seafood Company.
The event was timed to coincide with preparations for the French Christmas trading period, which typically accounts for between 25 and 30 per cent of wholesalers’ annual sales.
For Scotland’s seafood industry, including fishing and aquaculture businesses operating along the west coast, France remains an important export market.
Marie-Anne Omnes, Head of Trade Marketing – Europe at Seafood Scotland, said: “France is an incredibly important market for Scotland and has a longstanding appreciation for exceptional seafood.
“In fact, our previous research found that 92 per cent of French people consume seafood, with nearly half considering origin when making a purchase.
“Rungis sits at the heart of the French food trade, so there is no better place for Scottish businesses to build commercial connections and bring the Scottish seafood story directly to the people buying, selling and serving seafood in one of Europe’s most important markets.”
The showcase also highlighted the longstanding relationship between Scotland and France through the prestigious Label Rouge quality certification.
Scottish salmon became the first fish, and the first non-French food product, to achieve Label Rouge status in 1992.
However, research commissioned by Seafood Scotland suggests there is still considerable scope to improve awareness of Scottish seafood among French consumers.
An OpinionWay survey found that 85 per cent of respondents were unaware Scotland is the only country producing Label Rouge-certified salmon, while 87 per cent did not know Scotland is the world’s leading supplier of langoustines.
The research also found that 69 per cent of French consumers said quality labels or certification influenced their purchasing decisions, rising to 73 per cent among under-35s.
Paul Knight, director of PDK Shellfish and Orkney Crab, said the response from French buyers had been encouraging.
“Events like these remind us of our unbreakable relationship with our closest friends and trading partners in France.
“The genuine delight and appreciation shown by buyers at Rungis and French retailers for our Scottish seafood remains just as strong, if not stronger than before.
“It was very encouraging and gives us extra strength to continue exporting our quality seafood to our friends in France, despite challenging conditions.”
Chris Keenan, Trade Specialist at Scottish Development International, said the event had provided an important opportunity to strengthen commercial relationships.
“Scotland’s seafood industry makes a vital contribution to our economy, and France remains a hugely important market for the sector.
“We need to be where the buyers are to build long-lasting links, and Rungis is part of a network of staple global marketplaces.”
Organisers hope the showcase will help Scottish seafood businesses build new relationships and expand their presence in the French market.
