Women in Tourism WIT Wednesday: 15 July 2020
We are delighted to bring three Women in Tourism members together for this WIT Wednesday, focusing on food and drink. We shall hear how the sector has been impacted by Covid-19, and how the respective businesses and organisations have responded to the challenges involved.
Watch a recording of the webinar here (including Aileen Lamb briefly setting up at beginning!)
WIT Wednesday 15 July: Our Speakers
Fiona Richmond, Scotland Food & Drink
Fiona is Head of Regional Food, part of the UK market development team that works to provide business opportunities for Scottish food and drink companies and to coordinate the implementation of the national food tourism plan that we launched with partners Scottish Tourism Alliance. Scotland Food and Drink has recently created a directory called Support Local to give a helping hand to the businesses impacted by Covid-19, whether producers, wholesalers or hospitality providers. An online platform, it aims to make it easier for the Scottish public to source food and drink which can be delivered or collected, from Shetland to the Borders, Perthshire to Argyll. Shoppers can find everything from cheese and bread to seafood and butcher meat, to fresh veg, beer and gin. Read Fiona’s guest blog here.
Emma Clark, Glenegedale House
Together with husband Graeme, son Cameron and daughter Millie, Emma runs award-winning 5 Star accredited Guest House Glenegedale House on the island of Islay. Since starting Glenegedale House in 2013, Emma and Graeme have achieved Five Star Gold accreditation, from both the AA and Visit Scotland, and have gone on to win a raft of industry awards, including a 2019/2020 Visit Scotland Thistle Award for Most Hospitable B&B / Guesthouse and Gold Medal Winner for Real and Local Food by the Scottish Food Awards and Academy 2017. The business is well-known for its celebration and promotion of local produce, including seafood and Islay malts, and collaboration with local businesses and communities, exemplified in a new Food, Drink and Foraging Festival, Taste Islay & Jura, launched in September 2019.
Vikki Wood, The Wee Restaurant
Vikki has been running well-known and highly popular The Wee Restaurant in North Queensferry and Edinburgh with husband and Chef Craig Wood since 2006. Their ethos is “to serve simple good food and wine in a truly relaxed atmosphere” however they also champion local and Scottish suppliers. Award-winning and hands-on chef proprietor, Craig, like Vikki, is passionate about the quality of both the food and the service offered in The Wee Restaurant. The business adapted its offering quickly when lockdown hit, devising “Wee Deliveries” of delicious meals and wine to customers, underlining the importance of its strong relationships with other quality local suppliers. Innovative business collaborations have also allowed The Wee Restaurant North Queensferry to deliver new product offerings to customers such as The Lobster Creel, showcasing East Neuk seafood.
You might also be interested in the Interface webinar, The Role of Food Tourism in Scotland’s Tourism Recovery, taking place at 11am on Tuesday 4 August 2020.
