Date Created: 13 December 2011
"This is a huge win for Scotland" - Anne MacColl, Chief Executive of SDI
The First Minister’s recent visit to China has revealed strong market opportunities for Scotland’s quality produce.
Scotland’s First Minister, Alex Salmond, praised Xiamen Spirit Empire, a Beijing business, for their plans to create China's largest Scotch whisky sales network: 300 stores in 3 years.
As a result of this plan more than £20 million of whisky will be bought from Scotland every year from these retail outlets alone.
China is a key emerging market for Scotch whisky with exports to the country amounting to £57 million in the 12 months to June 2011.
News of this development opportunity comes shortly after it was announced that China is also the top spot in the Far East for Scottish salmon exports. China has bought 3,036 tonnes of salmon over a six-month period amounting to £16 million, making it the fifth largest export destination for Scottish salmon.
Xiamen Spirit Empire’s immediate plans are to open a store in Shanghai and, with the support of Scottish Development International, secure an office in Scotland.
The First Minister said: “I'll be working with our partners here in China to promote Scottish industry and further the trade links that exemplify the already close relationship between our two countries.
“I am very pleased to visit the Spirit Empire and hear of their ambitious plans to create China's largest Scotch whisky sales network by selling what is our nation's most iconic product in 300 luxury shops across China. I am delighted that one of those already represented is from my own backyard - the Glenglassaugh distillery in Aberdeenshire.”
Scottish Development International chief executive Anne MacColl added: “This is a huge win for Scotland - it's not only an invaluable exporting opportunity for Scottish whisky companies but it represents another major inward investment success. We look forward to working with Xiamen Spirit Empire to support the company in establishing an office base in Scotland."
Find out how we can help your company make links with international markets