About the Service

Connect Local is a free, advisory service for the local Scottish food and drink sector. It is delivered by a team of experts from SAC, SAOS, Scotland Food & Drink and Seafood Scotland, and funded by Scottish Government and European Maritime and Fisheries Fund.

About the Service

We offer advice and guidance on:

Local food and drink businesses and organisations
Regional food groups
Collaborative projects that promote local food and drink
Start-ups and SMEs looking to develop capabilities

Our Aims

Change behaviour in food and drink production, promotion, procurement and ultimately consumer purchasing towards local choices.

Strengthen the local food and drink economy including the seafood supply chain (diversifying and improving access to local markets).

Case Studies

Honeyberries: Exploratory Workshops

Scotland could become the world’s leading producer of the next big superberry, the Honeyberry. The potential for this superberry is huge and it is hoped production will increase to 5,000 acres across Scotland in the next decade. A group of growers who recognised this opportunity have formed the Honeyberry Coop with the help of Connect Local.

Borders Railway: Meet the Buyer

Connect Local worked with Borders Railway Blueprint Partnership and Scotland Food & Drink to host the first meet the buyer event for the region: Discover the Tastes of the Borders, Midlothian and Edinburgh. Click here to view and download the full case...

The Staff Canteen: Digital

Connect Local, through the Seafood Advisory Service, delivered a six-month digital campaign aimed at maximising opportunities for Scottish seafood through leading networking website for chefs ‘The Staff Canteen’. Click here to view and download the full case...

Mull & Iona Food Trail: Branding Development Workshop

The Mull & Iona Food Trail has been developed to showcase the delicious island produce and encourage visitors and residents to enjoy food that is grown, caught and produced on Mull, Iona and the neighbouring islands. Connect Local provided a Branding Development...

Bon Accord Drinks: Meet the Buyer

Connect Local worked with Borders Railway Blueprint Partnership and Scotland Food & Drink to host the first meet the buyer event for the region: Discover the Tastes of the Borders, Midlothian and Edinburgh. Hear from attendees Bon Accord Drinks about why the...

Testimonials

Edinburgh-based butter producer and dairy processor, The Butter Boys, aim to sell a range of traditional and flavoured butter products. Their mission is to put Scottish butter on the map and on Scottish tables. David from The Butter Boys was introduced to Kerry Allison of Connect Local through Interface and commented:

“Kerry gave us excellent marketing advice and she helped us with both our strategy and our brand. Working with Connect Local has been extremely beneficial to us and Kerry was competent and capable at guiding us. After such a positive experience, we will be calling on Kerry and the Connect Local’s experts again.”