Promoting the best of Food From Fife
Food from Fife is an exciting initiative that aims to promote and develop the region’s food and drink.
It does so by developing better connections between the food and drink businesses of Fife, and increasing awareness of them in the Kingdom and beyond. Thus, the network brings together primary producers such as farmers, businesses such as bakers or fish processors, retail outlets including farmers’ markets, farm shops and delis, and the hospitality trade’s restaurants, hotels and cafés.
By increasing our common interest in raising Fife’s food and drink profile, the network sees benefits for all food and drink businesses, and it will develop strategic initiatives to improve supply, distribution, quality and communication.
Aims
Our overall objective is to help realise and maximise Fife’s real potential for the further development of its food and tourism sectors. This includes our aims to:
- Develop and deepen Fife’s food identity and reputation
- Provide a resource for collaborative working locally – and with other areas
- Help improve visitor experiences
- Increase visitor spend and new tourism opportunities
- Support Fife’s local food economy and business diversity
- Increase local employment and training opportunities
- Improve community opportunities to access local food
- Link local food with other cultural, environmental and educational activities
What We Have Done So Far
- Established the organisation, name and Management Board
- Secured initial project funding
- Created a brand identity
- Undertaken a high quality food and landscape photography exercise
- Produced the highly acclaimed ‘Fife Larder’ publication
- Organised ‘Taster Sessions’ at the Fife Farmers’ Markets and many different events
- Organised a ‘Food from Fife’ presence at the Scottish Cabinet reception in Stirling Castle
- Supported promotional activities at the Open Golf Championship, the BBC Good Food Show, The Royal Highland Show, RAF Leuchars Open Day and other events
- Developed the ‘Fife Larder Food Map’, now in its third edition
- Researched potential future projects
- Created a Food from Fife website
- Delivered industry training events
- Worked closely with local further education colleges
What We Plan To Do
- Continue to run a number food tourism promotional events within and outwith Fife
- Undertake a variety of education, training, and community activities
- Undertake a membership drive and build on the success of the initial projects
Some Of Those Involved
Will Docker is the founder of St Andrews’ successful Balgove Larder Farm Shop, Butchery, Café & Steak Barn. As a longstanding member of Food from Fife’s board and current Chair, he has previously been the organisation’s treasurer. With a background in biomedical sciences, Will Docker’s experience has included work in the kitchens of London’s famous Bibendum restaurant, cheffing in the Arctic Circle on a Russian salmon river and running a company that supplied top London restaurants with live shellfish. In 2010 he opened Balgove Larder as a way of showcasing and celebrating the best of local produce. The business has since expanded significantly, now employing over 60 people.
Emma Johnson is a Speciality Food Consultant and the part time coordinator of Food from Fife. She has worked for many years in the artisan food and drink industry in both producer and wholesale environments. Emma relocated to Scotland in 2022 after over 20 years in Cornwall where she built a successful career managing the South West of England & Channel Islands for a major fine food importer before going on to head up the fine food division of one of the West Country’s biggest distribution companies.
The Food from Fife board comprises Will Docker [Balgove Farm Shop]; Steven McKay [University of St Andrews]; Dan Connolly [New Alliance]; Owen Hazel [Jannettas]; Chloe Milne [Fisher & Donaldson]; Jenny Thomson [Courses for Cooks]; Rosie Jack [Bowhouse].
Food from Fife was founded by Toby Anstruther, Viv Collie and Jimmy Wilson.
The founding Management Board members were:
Cllr Andrew Arbuckle [author, agriculture journalist, Fife councillor, and former Member of the Scottish Parliament], Tom Mitchell [Puddledub Pork, Fife Farmers’ Markets], Jane Stewart [St Andrews Farmhouse Cheese Co], Will Docker [Balgove Farm Shop], Cameron Laird [Cairnie Fruit Farm], John Whitehead OBE [Seafish, UKFDEA], Simon Whitley [Old Course Hotel, Golf Resort & Spa], Eric Milne [Fisher & Donaldson], Jim Crooks [Elmwood College]
Work in the food industry?
Join the Food from Fife Community
Food from Fife is a membership organisation supported by Fife Council. It’s a way of bringing together one of the region’s most exciting and important industries with the aim of supporting it and growing the sector. As a Food From Fife member, you will have the opportunity to shape developments, meet and share experiences of other local businesses, get access to insights, training, marketing and trading opportunities and much more.
The food & drink community at the heart of Fife
