(Image: Supplied)
Fourteen Scottish seafood businesses have showcased their products at a major Paris food market as they seek to build trade links with French buyers ahead of Christmas.
The event, La nuit de l’Écosse, took place at Rungis International Market, bringing together producers to promote Scotland’s seafood to wholesalers and other buyers.
French buyers, wholesaler and foodservices gather to meet Scottish seafood businesses. (Image: Supplied)
Organised by Seafood Scotland, Scottish Development International and Scottish Quality Salmon Label Rouge, the showcase ran from midnight until 4am to coincide with the market’s trading hours.
It was officially opened at midnight by Jim Fairlie MSP, Minister for Agriculture, Marine and the Islands.
The event was timed to coincide with the Christmas trading period, which typically accounts for 25% to 30% of annual sales for French wholesalers.
Businesses taking part included Bakkafrost Scotland, Loch Duart, Mowi Scotland, Wester Ross, Cluny Fish, Highland Smoked Salmon and Shetland-based Simpson Fish.
The showcase also highlighted the long-standing trade and cultural links between Scotland and France, including the Label Rouge certification awarded to Scottish salmon in 1992. It was the first non-French food product to receive the distinction.
Scottish organisations showcase at Rungis. (Image: Supplied)
However, recent research suggests awareness of the certification remains limited among French consumers. An OpinionWay survey found that 85% did not know Scotland is the only country with Label Rouge salmon.
France remains an important market for Scottish seafood. Previous research by Seafood Scotland found that 92% of French people consume seafood, with almost half considering a product’s origin when making a purchase.
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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% 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."
Karl Simpson, director at Shetland-based Simpson Fish, said: "As a business based in Shetland, having the opportunity to meet potential customers at Rungis in such a targeted yet relaxed setting was invaluable.
"We've come away with promising leads and look forward to building new relationships that could open up further opportunities for our business."