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Scottish Rural Affairs and Environment Secretary Richard Lochhead yesterday presented leading salmon manufacturer, Gourmet's Choice, with their Safe and Local Supplier Approval (SALSA) certification. The accreditation illustrates the continuing strength of Scottish salmon industry.
Mr Lochhead said: "Gourmet's Choice has been running for more than 100 years, and it is great to see such an established business continue to strive for excellence. I'm delighted to present Gourmet's Choice with the Safe and Local Supplier Approval (SALSA) accreditation. For consumers it is a stamp of confident approval in their local suppliers.
"For a sustainable and thriving supply chain, collaboration between producers and fishermen is of the utmost importance. There is growing global demand for Scotland's top quality seafood and it is vital that our independent artisan smokehouses have access to the excellent raw materials from our seas to meet this surging demand.
"Over the years, the company has been awarded more than £140,000 from our Processing and Marketing Grant Scheme which has, along with the company's own drive, assisted with the continual development of the site and business.
"Our Scottish salmon industry continues to defy the current economic strains and is going from strength to strength. The Scottish Government wants to do all we can to make sure that the product's integrity is protected.
"We are currently lending support to the Scottish Salmon Producers Organisation on an application for a Scottish smoked salmon Protected Geographical Indicator status (PGI). The PGI status will give assurance to those buying Scottish smoked salmon, either at home or abroad, that what they are getting is the genuine article."
Gourmet's Choice is one of Scotland's leading manufacturers and exporters of smoked salmon, established in 1908 as A.J. Sutherland.
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