SCOTTISH salmon was celebrated in Paris during a St Andrew’s Day reception.
The event was held at the British Embassy in the French capital, with government officials and local media outlets invited.
This year marks the 30th anniversary of Scottish salmon holding the prestigious “Label Rouge” quality mark, which is the official recognition by French authorities of the superior quality of food or farmed products.
The market for Scottish salmon is booming in France and is at an all-time high – exports in 2019 were £221 million, which rose to £304m last year.
Scottish Rural Affairs Secretary Mairi Gougeon and acclaimed chef Hirose Abe attended the event.
Gougeon said: “This week, as we celebrate all that Scotland has to offer on our national holiday, St Andrew’s Day, it is fitting that the Scottish salmon success story is high up on the agenda.
“I was pleased to be in Paris to continue the close collaboration between the governments of Scotland and France and to consider ways in which we can support exports of salmon to the EU and France, in particular.
“France is the largest export destination for Scottish salmon and accounts for just over 80% of all Scottish salmon exports to the EU. Together with our French counterparts, we marked the 30th anniversary of Scottish salmon having Label Rouge certification – the first non-French product to be awarded Label Rouge accreditation.”
Tavish Scott, chief executive of Salmon Scotland, hailed Scotland’s collaboration with France.
He said: “These days, Scotland and France collaborate on products and markets, and we are immensely proud to be at the heart of this new ‘Auld Alliance gastronomique’.”
Scott also added that salmon companies have “overcome the new bureaucratic difficulties” caused by Brexit to bring salmon to France “as quickly and efficiently as possible”.
