Valuable Showcase for Smaller Firms - 4 June 2007

Unusual Items On The Menu At Event Valuable Showcase For Smaller Firms – 4 June 2007

Banana and coconut and marshmallow ice cream were among the unusual items at the northeast's leading food festival. As well as established brands such as ice-cream maker Mackie's and
supermarket meat supplier Speyside Specialities, there were a number of smaller manufacturers from across the country at the Taste of Grampian event.

Among them was Cairngorm Brewery Company. The Aviemore micro brewery's Beth Tyler said customers wanted a change from mass-produced lagers. "People are eating and drinking much more healthily now and there's far more interest in where our food comes from."

Launched in 2001 and employing only 11 staff, the brewery produces different ales to be found in pubs across Scotland as well as Sainsbury's and Tesco.

"We've been coming here for four years and we get a really good response every time. People are eager to try something new," Ms Tyler said.

Australian Michelle Graham, 35, set up Blue Coo Ice Cream in Lerwick with her Glaswegian husband, Tom, five years ago. "We moved to Shetland in 1998, my husband is a chef, and we realised there was no local ice cream. We saw a gap in the market and went for it. We started really slowly and just built up the company over time."

As well as the traditional flavours of vanilla and chocolate, customers were treated to more unusual delights such as raspberry pavlova flavour and white chocolate, coconut and marshmallow flavour. "It's the first time we've had a stall here and we're getting an amazing response," said Mrs Graham.

Among the items being snapped up was banana jam made by Angus farmer Sandy Gray.

Trading as Nicholls of Strathmore, the Carmyllie-produced preserves are a favourite of the Queen and have attracted interest from Harrods, thought to be interested in selling them in its famous store in London's Knightsbridge.

Despite poor weather, there was a good turnout for the event.

Leslie Gittins, 73, of Dyce, was stocking up for a barbecue. "It's not the first time I've been here," he said. "It's really well organised and gives you a chance to try out things you might not have heard of."

Rhona Mitchell, of Ellon, said: "It's nice to see so many products from the local area. There's a lot of good food from this part of the world but sometimes we don't do enough to promote it."

New attraction tempts sweet-toothed show-goers Fountain draws a stream of people. Chocolate is not widely known as being a Taste of Grampian, but at this year's event thousands got their fix. Among some of Scotland's finest fresh food, a stand boasting a chocolate fountain saw a constant stream of people eager to sample the tempting skewers of strawberries and marshmallows dipped in chocolate.

The chocolate fountain is fast becoming a must-have at weddings, birthday parties and even corporate events. As a result, Chocolate Tiers - a new business set up by an Aberdeenshire mum returning to work - must have seen a majority of the 14,000 people who flocked to the event.

Owner Coleen Ross, from Scotsmill Crescent at Blackburn, Aberdeenshire, says business is booming. She said: "I set it up in October and I have been really surprised by the demand for something like this. Visually, the fountain is very attractive and I think that is what brings in a lot of our customers. People see the fountain and it is pretty hard to resist.

"We have received a lot of bookings and the chocolate fountain appears to be getting even more popular. Weddings seem to be our main stream of income, but corporate events are not far behind now. We have also taken bookings for family occasions and dinner parties, so it has quite a wide-ranging appeal."

Aided by her assistants Kerry MacLeod and Jade Scott, Ms Ross says the company has a busy summer ahead. For more information on Chocolate Tiers, phone 01224 790513 or visit www.thechocolatetiers.me.uk