JACK and Victor will be skipping out of The Clansman this month to make a star appearance at one of Scotland’s biggest food and drink events.
The Still Game duo will swap Craiglang for the carnival as Dunns bring a funfair of food and drink to one of Glasgow’s most famous venues, with the once-a–year industry gathering being hosted at the iconic Platform at The Arches this October.
The event will showcase the very best of Scottish produce in a journey of ‘Discovery’ and Scottish comedy favourites Ford Kiernan and Greg Hemphill will be on hand to meet the great and the good of Scotland’s food service and licensed trade industries, and sign bottles of their very own Jack and Victor whisky and gin.
The popular annual event, this year getting guests to ‘roll up’ for the carnival and funfair-themed show, will allow people to discover Dunns’ vast food and drink range through brand experiences and activation. It takes place amid a series of emerging new trends in Scotland, including a spike in demand for plant-based products, immunity-boosting foods and increased scrutiny on sustainability.
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Those visiting the Glasgow city centre venue on October 25 will have the chance to sample a host of new products being brought to the market, as Dunns look to introduce the food industry’s freshest lines to consumers.
Speaking ahead of the highly anticipated Discovery 2022 show, the first in-person event since 2019, Julie Dunn, Operations Director at Dunns Food and Drinks, said: “It’s a very big event for us and we’re really excited, given it’s the first time we’ve been able to have everyone together for a show since the pandemic.
“The theme of 2022 is ‘Discovery’ and we’ve challenged suppliers to really think about what they’re bringing to the sector in terms of new product development.
“As you’d expect, we’ve had a brilliant response, particularly from local producers, many of which have launched during lockdown, and we’ve been very keen to support them.
“By backing small independent businesses, it also re-emphasises our commitment to help build a fairer and greener food and drink sector and to make that positive contribution to Scotland’s economy as a whole.”
On the menu at Platform will be the likes of meat-free meal solutions, authentic international street foods and premium bar snacks, each featuring under the banner of discovery, with suppliers encouraged to bring their hottest new produce to the dinner table.
The strength of Scotland’s drinks sector will also be on display, with local producers Harris Gin, Panther Milk and Novar Scottish craft cider just a trio of many licensed trade suppliers keen to show off their latest creations.
The event will once more be at the forefront of the latest developments across Scotland’s food and drink industry. So far in 2022, Dunns have found health conscious, immunity-boosting foods to be high in demand, while in contrast they’ve also witnessed increased interest in comfort foods and home-cooking classics from burgers to macaroni and cheese.
International cuisines, from South-East Asia, South America and the Caribbean also have new-found popularity, as have premium fries and potato products.
And as explained by Dunns Food and Drinks’ Marketing Manager, Niall Deveney, plant-based and meat-free foods are continuing on the same upward curve from previous years, resulting in big sales.
He said: “The trend towards plant-based products has carried over into 2022. As an example, one of our new lines, Seabloom, which has seen us help their seaweed-based tuna enter the market, has proved popular.
“Furthermore, Nestle’s commitment to their new plant-based Garden Gourmet range, including their meat-free environmentally sustainable burgers, demonstrates how much the food sector is shifting in that direction.”
From an operations point of view, many restaurants are streamlining their menus for ease of service, as they continue to suffer from a lack of labour availability, often resulting in reduced opening hours.
However, as ever, the fast-moving pace of change in the drinks industry shows no signs of slowing down. Rum and whisky are the in-vogue spirits of the moment, while low and alcohol free options continue to appeal to those looking to reduce their drink intake.
Niall added: “Rum and in particular spiced rums are growing in popularity, while the whisky market is going from strength-to-strength. People are perhaps starting to look around after the gin boom, which has plateaued slightly, but is still performing strongly.
“Cocktails and unique serves are continuing to have huge appeal, with drinkers looking for something a little more special and premium experiences on their night out.
“Elsewhere, Novar Cider, based in the Scottish Highlands, is an example of the piqued interest in craft ciders. Their owner relocated to France to learn his trade off a cider-maker before opening up here in Scotland, with all the cider being produced from an orchard which features over 10,000 apple trees, which are all of different varieties.”
“The boom in the non and low-alcohol drinks category is sustaining, as an increasing number of people look to cut back on their alcohol intake without compromising on something nice to drink.”
Discovery 2022 takes place at Platform, 253 Argyle Street, Glasgow on Tuesday October 25, from 1pm to 6pm.
The event is FREE to attend, however as capacity is limited, attendees are encouraged to register here.
For more information on Dunns Food and Drinks, visit the website.