Now that UK food service is getting back to work, the industry will look to grow a greater domestic demand for their catch, but they are not stopping there.
Natalie Bell, Head of Trade Marketing for Europe, Middle East and Asia at Seafood Scotland, which works to increase the value of return to the Scottish seafood sector through trade promotion and business development support, explains: “The market profile has changed considerably. UK consumers are demanding more of their own seafood, as opposed to the 60% that is normally imported from places like Norway. Buying decisions are being driven by purpose, and ‘buy local’ is top of both consumer and food service consciousness, so the demand for more is likely to continue.
However, exporting profiles will also shift, with Brexit looming large on the minds of businesses. Natalie continues: “We are receiving a greater volume of enquiries from Scottish companies looking to widen their export base. Those that traditionally stuck to the key European markets are now extremely interested in sending their produce further afield to places such as Singapore, Indonesia, and Saudi Arabia.