Scottish Seafood sector aims to top £30m sales in Brussels

The European Seafood Exposition (ESE) takes place from 24th – 26th April 2012 and is an important highlight on the global seafood calendar. Sales in excess of £30 million were anticipated from attendance at the trade show in 2011, up from £14.4 million in 2010. The sector is confident of matching this achievement in 2012, as seafood continues to perform well despite the global recession.

ESE is forecast to attract over 24,000 visitors from 80 countries, many of whom will pass through a Scottish Pavilion, which promotes the vision of Scotland as a ‘Land of Food and Drink’. Seventeen companies selling salmon, whitefish, shellfish, herring and mackerel, will exhibit on the 705 square metre Scottish Pavilion, which is organised by Scottish Development International (SDI). A host of other Scottish-based companies will exhibit at the show independently. A team of Scottish chefs is gearing up to serve more than 20,000 samples of Scottish produce to visitors at a seafood bar on the pavilion, hosted by Seafood Scotland.  International buyers have been invited to attend a Scottish ministerial reception there on the first day of the show. Scott Landsburgh, Chief Executive of Scottish Salmon Producers' Organisation and Scottish Quality Salmon, said, “Exports of Scottish salmon have reached record levels two years in a row, achieving annual sales in excess of £400 million. “ESE is internationally recognised as the world’s largest seafood show with buyers from across the globe expected to attend. As the popularity of higher value, sustainable salmon continues to soar, we expect this to be another good year for Scotland’s largest food export.”