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Food and drink businesses from the Highlands and Islands were dominating a 67-strong Scottish contingent at one of the world's top five trade shows in London this week.
Biscuits from Benbecula and black puddings from Stornoway were there fighting for orders from across the globe.
Products from over 40 companies in the north of Scotland were at the International Food Exhibition held at Earls Court, a five-day event, which usually attracts more than 46,000 visitors from over 100 countries.
The Western Isles companies at the show were Macleans Bakery of Balivanich; Charles Macleod Butchers of Stornoway; and Hebrides Harvest, based in Tarbert but representing a number of small producers on the Islands.
Mr Alan Maclean, one of the two directors of the bakery, was at the show for the first time.
He said the firm wanted to expand its sales off the island in order to continue to expand. It was showing a range of hand-made traditional biscuits and whisky cake.
The fact that a product was Gaelic and Hebridean and from a family-run business was a major attraction.
He said he was very impressed by the way the stand had been put together and the attention which it was getting.
HIE's head of food and drink, Murdina Macdonald, said the north of Scotland delegation was appearing on a special Scottish Pavilion - the biggest national stand at the show. "By combining quality products with sophisticated marketing, Highlands and Islands businesses are scoring consistent successes at events such as IFE," she said.
Mr Iain Macleod, of Charles Macleod Butchers, said it was the first the firm had exhibited at the show although they had been before as visitors. There was a lot of interest in anything Hebridean Ð they had taken Stornoway Black Pudding and haggis and numbers of wholesalers and caterers had been interested.
He said that Western Isles Enterprise and the Western Isles Council had made a nice job of the stand, which was on a corner site and attracting a lot of interest. Orders would not come at the show, he said. They would result from following the expressions of interest afterwards.
It had been very good to meet in person a range of people who they had dealt with over the telephone for many years.
Mr Maclean said there had been interest in the bakery products from firms in Italy, Denmark, Germany, Ireland, Wales and England.
The show also gave him the chance to meet people involved in similar lines of business.
Original article Stornoway Gazette Feb 17 1997.
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