Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) has announced that Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands Mairi Gougeon will speak at the body’s 2026 conference, as well as other key industry figures.
The QMS ‘Future Thinking on Red Meat’ conference will take place on 10th March at Murrayfield Stadium, and will bring together farmers, processors, retailers, policy makers and industry partners for a day of insights and discussion.
The conference will aim to explore industry challenges and equip delegates with the “intelligence, inspiration and connections” needed to move forward with confidence.
Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands, Mairi Gougeon, will reinforce the importance of Scotland’s red meat sector to rural communities and the national economy, while an international perspective will come from Dr Phil Hadley, secretary general of the International Meat Secretariat, who will address the global livestock supply challenge and Scotland’s competitive position in a tightening marketplace.
Market and consumer trends will be examined by Lesley Ann Gray of Worldpanel by Numerator, while Richard Wood of Tesco will offer a retailer’s perspective on category performance, shopper behaviour and future opportunity for Scotch red meat.
Strategic context and sector insight will also be provided by Sarah Millar, chief executive of QMS, and QMS board member Dr Carrie Ruxton, alongside contributions from the Scottish Red Meat Resilience Group and QMS’s senior management team.
“We aim to ensure Scottish red meat is well positioned for a resilient and profitable future, both at home and internationally.”
Sarah Millar, QMS
Sarah Millar, chief executive of QMS, said: “With special thanks to our sponsors and partners, we are thrilled to see such strong demand for the return of the QMS conference. The fact that the event has around 300 attendees demonstrates just how committed our industry is to engaging with the big issues, from livestock supply and market dynamics to reputation and the next generation.
“By bringing together global insight, Government leadership and expertise from across retail, foodservice and farming, we aim to ensure Scottish red meat is well positioned for a resilient and profitable future, both at home and internationally.”
