Farming: French show is meat and drink for Scots farmers

Scottish red meat exporters were in upbeat mood yesterday at SIAL, one of the largest food fairs in the world, with reports of increased interest in both Scotch beef and lamb.

Speaking at the event, held on the outskirts of Paris, Malcohm Hetherington, the general manager of Mathers of Inverurie, stated, "there is a feel-good position in the export sector just now," explaining that there was now a recognised niche market for Scotch meat on the Continent .

The export trade has always been prone to fluctuations in currency rates, but he said that most exporters now took a long view of the situation and did not dwell on day-to-day movements: "We look at supplying over 52 weeks of the year. That is what our customers want."

Traditionally, Scotland has exported prima cuts of meat to France, Italy, Holland Belgium and Spain but Peter Robertson, of Millers of Speyside, revealed that his company was picking up interest from "new" countries on the scene. "In addition to our long-term customers in Holland, France and Belgium, we have enquiries from Latvia which look promising and also from the Czech Republic."

Donald Biggar, the chairman of Quality Meat Scotland, which provides support for the Scottish companies at the exhibition, described the export market as being "very important" for the Scottish red meat sector and he was very pleased that progress was being made despite the wider economic gloom.

"There is no doubt that the global economic slump is making trading conditions difficult," he said, "but the good news is that, despite relatively tight supplies of Scotch beef and lamb, exporters are maintaining a strong presence in the market .

"Scotch beef and lamb now has a presence in nearly every major outlet in our key markets of France, Benelux and Italy, which is great news. However, it is vital we do not miss any opportunity to enhance this hard-won profile."

The latest figures from QMS back up the optimism, with UK beef sales growing 19 per cent in the first six months of the year, and within that, Scotland was more than holding its share, Biggar said. UK lamb sales have fallen by 5 per cent in the same period but he expected Scottish figures to buck that trend.

Normally the cabinet secretary attends the event. In his absence, Biggar pointed to the Scottish Government's ambition to grow sales in the food and drinks sectors to 12.5 billion by 2017: "The presence of so many of Scotland's flagship meat companies at SIAL shows our collective determination to play a full part in meeting that goal."

SIAL is expected to attract upwards of half a million visitors over the next four days despite problems arising from the strikes affecting France.