Food, Drink and Tourism

The food and drink industry in Moray employs 17.1% of the workforce - the highest per head of population in Scotland. Moray is home to almost 50% of Scotland’s whisky distilleries, which contribute directly to both skilled employment and to the tourism sector.
However, with product manufacturing becoming increasingly automated, employment in the food and drink sector is currently forecast to decline by 11% by 2027.
Moray’s Tourism Strategy recognises that the sector generates over 10% of Moray’s total employment and 3.8% of the total turnover of businesses.

The strategy aims to double tourism spend in Moray by 2025. The focus is on increasing value generated by sustainable numbers of visitors.

Currently tourism, including accommodation and food services, is the sixth largest sector in Moray, with visitors to the area supporting more than 2,846 full-time equivalent jobs.

Investment in workforce training and in promoting high quality visitor accommodation and attractions will help to ensure that those employed in the tourism sector have progression opportunities available to them. 

The industry body, Moray Speyside Tourism, engages with businesses, communities and public sector partners across the region to implement the area’s Tourism Strategy, to raise the profile of Moray, to identify opportunities.