The definitive guide to ScotHot 2015

Aimed at chefs and buyers from across the hospitality industry, ScotHot 2015 will feature the latest food and drink, catering equipment, décor, tableware and technology products and services as well as live stage action, demonstrations and business advice.

ScotHot is being run as part of Scottish Tourism Week’s Signature Programme, which will bring together top events for the Scottish hospitality industry including the Scottish Tourism Industry Conference, Scottish Tourism Week Dinner with a Difference and the Scottish Thistle Awards.

This year, the show will be opened by Fergus Ewing MSP, Scottish Minister for Business, Energy and Tourism.
 
 ScotHot event director, Soraya Gadelrab, said: “ScotHot is the definitive event for those in the food, drink, hospitality and tourism industries.  We’re delighted that Mr Ewing is going to launch it as part of Scottish Tourism Week’s Signature Programme.  This is recognition of the significance of the value of these industries to the Scottish economy and ScotHot’s part in working to raise levels of best practice.”

What not to miss at ScotHot 2015:​​

Scottish Culinary Championships​

ScotHot will play host to the finals of the 30^th​ Scottish Culinary Championships, which will include a number of live cook-offs, culinary art competitions and skills tests.

The championships will include the grand final of the prestigious Scottish Chef of the Year award, which will see current MasterChef: the Professionals winner Jamie Scott, previous MasterChef finalist Adam Handling and six other Scottish chefs go head-to-head in a bid to win gold.

The Spotlight stage​

The Spotlight Stage will offer free business advice in the form of live presentations, demonstrations and debates over two days. Day one highlights include:

• An opening address from Fergus Ewing MSP
• A discussion on PR and online marketing - featuring Rosie Akenhead, manager – business outreach at Yelp and Geoff Morrison, founder of Hotel Marketing Scotland
• A debate on bridging the skills gap - including speakers from the Institute of Hospitality, People 1^st​ and Skills Development Scotland
• A discussion on opportunities for Scottish hospitality firms – featuring chef Andrew Farlie and Loch Melfort Hotel proprietor Claum Ross as well as representatives from Scotland Food & Drink and VisitScotland.

Day two will see the Scottish Tourism Alliance host talks and workshops as an integral part of the Scottish Tourism Week Conference – with topics to include accessible tourism, sustainability, the SECC Hydro, attracting and nurturing talent and broadband technology

UK Barista Championships​

For the first time since 2009, ScotHot will host the UK Barista Championships, which will test the UK’s 20 top baristas on their coffee knowledge, presentation, preparation and all round ability. The winner of the competition will represent the UK at the World Barista Championships in Seattle in April 2015.

 New Product Awards ​

The ScotHot New Product Awards will return for 2015, with the aim of discovering the best products or services in the Scottish hospitality industry.

After a year of judging, the 11 finalists will receive gold, silver or bronze accolades during an awards ceremony on The Spotlight Stage at 16.00 on 5 March.

Liquid Academy Live​

The Liquid Academy Live is being managed by the LA Group and will include talks and interactive seminars with spirits, mixed drinks, beers and wine. Guest speakers include:

• Tom Lewis - head chef at Monachyle Mhor Hotel
• Kim Lahiri – the world’s leading authority on aroma & a Master Perfumer
• Scott Mcleod – from the training team at Liquid Academy
• Jehad Hatu – craft beers specialist for Grunting Growler
• Mark Ridgwell – drinks writer

CESA Innovation Zone​

New for 2015, the CESA Innovation Zone will feature the latest developments in catering equipment in Scotland – with both smaller companies and larger manufacturers showcasing their innovative products.

Buell Business Advice Clinic​

This year, ScotHot will offer free specialist business advice at the new Buell Business Advice Clinic, being run in partnership with The Buell Group. Business experts from Avvio, IHotelligence, Procure Wizard, The Tender Management Company and The Energy Desk will be on hand for one-on-one appointments to discuss any aspect of business in confidence.

QMS Demo Theatre​

Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) will host its own demonstration stage at the show, featuring some of the country’s top butchers discussing the muscle structure and inherent qualities of Scottish meat and giving ideas on how to get the best from certain cuts.