Seafood Scotland, the national trade marketing body for the industry, has kicked off a new marketing drive in China this month to re-establish Scotland’s seafood as a premium product in a post-Covid world.
Globally, the seafood industry was hit hard by the impact of Covid-19, with disruption to the supply chain and decline in consumption creating the perfect storm for the market. To help Scottish seafood companies develop more sales opportunities and distribution channels for those that are already in the market, Seafood Scotland has partnered with the China-Britain Business Council to host a programme of both virtual and in-person events aimed at bolstering opportunities.
Adam Wing, Head of Trade Marketing, Europe and Asia, commented: “The expansion of China’s middle class with disposable income and demand for a diverse diet has stimulated the growth of imported seafood products with China importing over 4 million tonnes of seafood in 2020.
“The figures are staggering and it’s a market that has real growth potential for Scotland. Chinese people have a very strong appetite for Scottish seafood as they appreciate the high quality and provenance of our products so it’s important that after a challenging year of Covid restrictions, Scottish companies are fully armed with everything they need to build upon existing relationships and nurture new ones as we emerge from the pandemic.”