Scotland food & Drink Awards 2017

Food and drink is now a star performer sector in the Scottish economy, with plans to develop a Uk-wide strategy

Scotland Food & Drink has announced the appointment of Lucy Husband to the new role of UK market development director.

Husband will help spearhead its new UK market strategy to drive growth opportunities for Scottish suppliers.

The organisation, which has 420 member companies and partner organisations across the industry, aims to double the size of the industry to £30bn by 2030 under its Ambition 2030 strategy.

Husband has most recently been sales and marketing director at Scottish red meat business AK Stoddart, having previously held senior roles at Malton Foods and Waverley Vintners.

“Food and drink is now a star performer sector in the Scottish economy with a turnover of £14bn annually and is in a phase of rapid growth, ” said Scotland Food & Drink chief executive James Withers.

“Ambition 2030 is hugely ambitious and seeks to build on the current momentum. Key to future success is driving further growth in our home market across Scotland and, crucially, across the rest of the UK.

“The market outside Scotland accounts for 80% of our UK trade. Therefore, the development of a new UK market strategy and the creation of a new director role within our organisation is an important step in turning strategy into delivery.

“Lucy brings with her extensive knowledge from working with the top retail and foodservice businesses in the UK and her experience in leading the commercial strategy of multimillion-pound businesses like AK Stoddart will be invaluable to us

“Collaboration and ambition have been the cornerstones of our export success in recent years. Lucy will bring a similar focus to our work in our home market, which is the foundation of our sector’s success.”

Husband said: “The opportunity to join Scotland Food & Drink and work closely with suppliers right across the country is extremely exciting.

“I have watched with interest the growth of Scotland Food & Drink over the last 10 years and have seen the benefit directly of the work they have delivered to unlock growth opportunities for Scottish businesses in the UK. I am really looking forward to leading the next generation of its UK market development work.”