Healthy routes to profit

This year's event, kicking off on 12 May, will focus on the importance of health to the success of the Scottish food industry. The Symposium will take place at the Apex City Quay Hotel in Dundee, and will consider a number of timely issues that are top of everyone's priority lists, including; processing efficiency, ethical marketing, reading behind the label, reformulation and innovations in healthy food development. The event will be chaired by Michael Gibson, chairman of Scotland's scientific advisory institution on land use - The Macaulay Land Use Research Institute, and chairman of the Board of The Scottish Association of Marine Science. Other speakers include: the Food Standards Agency, Marks & Spencer, industry advisory agencies and Scottish food research and academic bodies. Flora McLean, SFDF Director, said: "We are pleased that this year's Symposium reflects the importance the food industry places on best practice, even when companies are facing serious challenges in the current economic climate. "Whether it's processing efficiency, ethical marketing, the health and wellbeing of our staff or the reformulation of products to create healthier options, health is paramount to the success of the industry. As the largest manufacturing sector in Scotland, a successful food and drink industry is a vital component of the Scottish economy." http://www.sfdf.org.uk.