Food Fest celebrates all things "foodie"
FEATURE | JULY 2015
Food & Drink Feature
FROM beer to berries, from cheese to chocolate and from fish to fudge, Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire are rich in the finest natural produce which is being celebrated throughout this year in Food Fest 15. The project is a celebration of all things culinary in this area - there is a vast array - and coincides with the VisitScotland Year of Food and Drink Scotland 2015 initiative which aims to develop Scotland's reputation as a land of food and drink. Building on the series of food and drink events currently held throughout the year in the area, Food Fest 15 hopes to attract more visitors from across the UK and Europe to the North-east to discover what the area, recognised as "Scotland's larder", has to offer. Partners behind Food Fest 15 are Aberdeen & Grampian Chamber of Commerce, Aberdeenshire Council, Banffshire Coast Tourism Partnership, Visit Royal Deeside, VisitAberdeen, Aberdeen City and Shire Hotels' Association, Scottish Enterprise and VisitScotland. Marketing director of VisitAberdeen Peter Medley, who is leading the project on behalf of the partnership, said: "Scotland’s Year of Food and Drink is an excellent opportunity for local businesses to spotlight, promote and celebrate the quality and quantity of our natural larder and enhance our reputation as a foodie destination of first choice. “Food is a vital element in any break – whether for leisure or business - and Food Fest 15 will help visitors find even more places to eat and buy quality food, as well as seeing the manufacturing process in breweries and distilleries. "As a proportion of the national average, 'foodies' - those who show an interest in cuisine and dining-out - make up 28% of the population. “This group is twice as likely to eat out on average as other groups. “Two-thirds of Scotland’s visitors think that quality food is an important factor when deciding where to go on holiday and UK tourists to Scotland spend £610million on food and drink, representing 20% of all their visit expenditure. "We’re calling for everyone in the food and drink trade in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire to be a part of Food Fest 15 and use our great local produce to attract even more visitors to the North-east.
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