The Scotland Food & Drink Safari in Aberdeen offered far more than a behind-the-scenes look at some of the country’s most exciting food businesses. It provided a valuable snapshot of the pressures, priorities and opportunities shaping the sector today.
A Supply Chain That Never Stops
Our first stop was Peterhead Fish Market – the largest fish market in Europe.
The scale of the operation is extraordinary. Fish landed from waters around Shetland and as far afield as Denmark move rapidly through a highly efficient, increasingly digitised marketplace. Technology now plays a critical role in how catches are traded, with produce often sold and on its way through the supply chain by 2pm on the very same day.
It’s a powerful reminder that food supply chains don’t stand still.
- Speed matters.
- Reliability matters.
- And every element within that supply chain has to perform.
Innovation Is Thriving Across Scotland's Food Sector
Throughout the day, we visited a variety of food and drink producers, each at different stages of their journey. Some were established manufacturers supplying major retailers. Others were innovators developing the next generation of products.
Our final stop at OneSeed, Aberdeen’s centre for food entrepreneurship, highlighted the energy and ambition within Scotland’s food sector. By providing access to commercial-grade production facilities, OneSeed enables businesses to develop, test and scale new concepts without the barriers traditionally associated with entering the market.
Yet despite their differences, many businesses shared remarkably similar concerns.
- Rising costs.
- Pressure on margins.
- Increasing customer expectations.
- And now, the reality of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR).
Packaging Is Becoming a Strategic Business Decision
Several producers spoke candidly about the impact EPR fees are already having on their businesses. Packaging decisions that may once have been driven primarily by functionality are now being viewed through a different lens.
- How much does it weigh?
- How easily can it be recycled?
- How complex is the reporting?
- Can it reduce costs elsewhere in the operation?
- Can it help future-proof the business?
At Cullen, these are exactly the conversations we are having with food and drink producers every day.
Packaging should never be considered in isolation.
The right solution protects products, supports operational efficiency, meets retailer requirements, simplifies compliance and contributes positively to the bottom line.
With decades of experience supplying the food and drink sector, we work collaboratively with businesses to develop packaging solutions tailored to their products, supply chains and commercial objectives.
Whether that’s moulded fibre alternatives, corrugated transit formats, shelf-ready solutions or bespoke designs engineered around specific challenges, our focus remains the same: delivering packaging that performs.
Helping Businesses Review Packaging Performance
That’s why we’ve launched our Packaging Performance Review.
Rather than focusing solely on materials, the review assesses packaging in context, helping businesses identify opportunities to:
- Reduce unnecessary packaging costs.
- Understand and minimise EPR exposure.
- Identify plastic reduction opportunities.
- Improve logistics and pallet efficiency.
- Simplify reporting requirements.
- Build commercially viable solutions that support growth.
The Takeaway
The Scotland Food & Drink Safari reinforced what we’ve long believed.
Scotland’s food and drink businesses are innovative, resilient and ambitious. But they need partners who understand the realities they face.
Packaging has become a strategic business decision.
Done well, it can protect more than products. It can protect margins, unlock efficiencies and create competitive advantage.
If you’d like to understand how your packaging is performing – and where opportunities may exist – our Packaging Performance Review is a practical place to start.
Explore our Packaging Performance Review and discover how packaging can work harder for your business.
The Scotland Food & Drink Safari in Aberdeen offered far more than a behind-the-scenes look at some of the country’s most exciting food businesses. It provided a valuable snapshot of the pressures, priorities and opportunities shaping the sector today.
A Supply Chain That Never Stops
Our first stop was Peterhead Fish Market – the largest fish market in Europe.
The scale of the operation is extraordinary. Fish landed from waters around Shetland and as far afield as Denmark move rapidly through a highly efficient, increasingly digitised marketplace. Technology now plays a critical role in how catches are traded, with produce often sold and on its way through the supply chain by 2pm on the very same day.
It’s a powerful reminder that food supply chains don’t stand still.
- Speed matters.
- Reliability matters.
- And every element within that supply chain has to perform.
Innovation Is Thriving Across Scotland's Food Sector
Throughout the day, we visited a variety of food and drink producers, each at different stages of their journey. Some were established manufacturers supplying major retailers. Others were innovators developing the next generation of products.
Our final stop at OneSeed, Aberdeen’s centre for food entrepreneurship, highlighted the energy and ambition within Scotland’s food sector. By providing access to commercial-grade production facilities, OneSeed enables businesses to develop, test and scale new concepts without the barriers traditionally associated with entering the market.
Yet despite their differences, many businesses shared remarkably similar concerns.
- Rising costs.
- Pressure on margins.
- Increasing customer expectations.
- And now, the reality of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR).
Packaging Is Becoming a Strategic Business Decision
Several producers spoke candidly about the impact EPR fees are already having on their businesses. Packaging decisions that may once have been driven primarily by functionality are now being viewed through a different lens.
- How much does it weigh?
- How easily can it be recycled?
- How complex is the reporting?
- Can it reduce costs elsewhere in the operation?
- Can it help future-proof the business?
At Cullen, these are exactly the conversations we are having with food and drink producers every day.
Packaging should never be considered in isolation.
The right solution protects products, supports operational efficiency, meets retailer requirements, simplifies compliance and contributes positively to the bottom line.
With decades of experience supplying the food and drink sector, we work collaboratively with businesses to develop packaging solutions tailored to their products, supply chains and commercial objectives.
Whether that’s moulded fibre alternatives, corrugated transit formats, shelf-ready solutions or bespoke designs engineered around specific challenges, our focus remains the same: delivering packaging that performs.
Helping Businesses Review Packaging Performance
That’s why we’ve launched our Packaging Performance Review.
Rather than focusing solely on materials, the review assesses packaging in context, helping businesses identify opportunities to:
- Reduce unnecessary packaging costs.
- Understand and minimise EPR exposure.
- Identify plastic reduction opportunities.
- Improve logistics and pallet efficiency.
- Simplify reporting requirements.
- Build commercially viable solutions that support growth.
The Takeaway
The Scotland Food & Drink Safari reinforced what we’ve long believed.
Scotland’s food and drink businesses are innovative, resilient and ambitious. But they need partners who understand the realities they face.
Packaging has become a strategic business decision.
Done well, it can protect more than products. It can protect margins, unlock efficiencies and create competitive advantage.
If you’d like to understand how your packaging is performing – and where opportunities may exist – our Packaging Performance Review is a practical place to start.
Explore our Packaging Performance Review and discover how packaging can work harder for your business.
