Debut for Scotch Beef PGI at Gulfood in Dubai

Scotch Beef PGI is set to be showcased on a menu celebrating the best of Scottish produce at an event in Dubai this evening (Tuesday 26th February).

This debut for Scotch Beef in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will see the beef served at a networking dinner organised by Scotland Development International (SDI) at Gulfood in Dubai.

The beef which has been shipped out for the showcase dinner was supplied by  Aberdeenshire meat processor McIntosh Donald.

Gulfood, the world’s biggest annual food and hospitality show, runs from 25 – 28 February 2013. The 113,398m².exhibition is this year hosting a record 4,200 exhibitors from 110 countries showcasing more than 50,000 brands across every sector of the food and beverage industry.

Laurent Vernet, Head of Marketing with Quality Meat Scotland, said the UAE offers exciting potential for Scotch Beef with Dubai viewed as a key trading hub for the global food industry.

“Given the high demand for top quality food and the steak-eating culture, this market clearly offers exciting potential for our iconic Scotch Beef label with its world-leading quality assurance and global acclaim for taste.

“However, it is important to emphasise that it is very much still early days. While we are pleased that special permission has been agreed with the UAE authorities to allow Scotch Beef to be exported for this event, we are still some way from any significant volume of product being exported to the UAE.”

William Gray, SDI’s Head of Food and Drink, said: “We’ve been working hard with our colleagues in the Middle East to raise the profile of Scottish food and drink within the region, and welcome any developments which would open up this market to Scotch Beef producers.

“The UAE has established itself as a global destination for fine dining, and we’re thrilled to be able to introduce our guests to Scotch Beef at the networking dinner in Dubai this evening.”

James Withers, Chief Executive of Scotland Food and Drink, who is speaking at the Dubai event said: "Tonight we mark Scotch Beef's arrival in UAE and it will be a real highlight of a dinner which will celebrate Scotland's larder.  

“The interest from Middle Eastern buyers for Scottish product at Gulfood has been really significant. Our reputation is clearly continuing to grow across the region.

“Scotch Beef encapsulates what is driving that reputation; fantastic eating quality and talented producers and manufacturers who have embraced world class production standards."

The UK has an existing health certificate for the export of lamb to the UAE and while no Scotch Lamb is currently exported to this market, Mr Vernet predicts the recent opening of the market to Scotch Beef may well lead to increased interest in Scotch Lamb.

QMS works with its sister organisations elsewhere in the UK as well as the Scottish Government and Defra to support the work of the UK Export Certification Partnership (UKECP).

UKECP is the body which provides a forum to establish export market priorities and negotiate export health certificates on behalf of the UK as well as assisting in the drafting of export health certificates.