THE SCOTTISH Government has announced a worldwide food deal with the World Association of Chefs Societies (WACS).
The landmark agreement could result in 10 million chefs around the world cooking with Scottish seafood. Scottish salmon and langoustines will also be used exclusively by more than 100 world-class chefs in the 2012-14 Chefs Global Challenge, which includes regional competitions in locations such as Singapore, Italy, Las Vegas and Hong Kong.
Seafood Scotland, Scottish Quality Salmon and Scottish Salmon Producers Organisation in partnership with Scottish Development International have struck the deal, which will see only Scottish salmon and langoustines featured in the WACS global chef competitions over the next two years, culminating in the 2014 final in Norway.
The WACS has more than 10 million members worldwide and members will be encouraged to use Scottish salmon and langoustines in their restaurants and a series of recipes will be produced to show how Scottish seafood can be used to create delicacies from around the world.
Announcing the new partnership at Food and Hotel China the food and hospitality event in Shanghai Richard Lochhead, Scotlands Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, said the deal will give Scottish produce unprecedented global exposure.
He added: “Scottish fish and shellfish are internationally regarded as being some of the most delicious and high quality seafood anywhere in the world. Not only that, but our seafood is fresh, healthy and sustainably sourced all standards that the worlds top chefs look for.
Gissur Gudmundsson, WACS president, added: As chefs, using good ingredients is always very important to us. In this day and age, ingredients that are produced in a sustainable manner play an equally important role. Seafood from Scotland is well known for a pioneering approach in sustainable farming.
This year, WACS initiated the How to Feed the Planet in the Future programme, in which chefs pledge to play their part to ensure there is enough to feed the planet over the next generations. This deal will go hand in hand with that programme said Gudmundsson.
