Pop-up shop to showcase isles’ food and drink

A POP-UP shop showcasing Shetland’s food and drink is set to open in the centre of Lerwick at the start of May.

The Shetland Food and Drink premises will open at 126 Commercial Street within a self-contained unit in Harry’s Department Store.

It will showcase produce from the organisation’s members until the end of the summer.

Shetland Food and Drink chairwoman Marian Armitage said the pop-up shop was a way of engaging with more people this summer.

The venture is going ahead with the support of sponsors Shetland Fish Producers’ Organisation, the Scottish Salmon Producers’ Organisation and Seafood Shetland.

Living Lerwick’s Selina-May Miller and former North Isles tourism officer Kellie Naulls are part-time coordinators for the project.

“Our members are keen to profile their businesses and sell more, so a pop-up seemed the obvious thing to do,” Armitage said.

“We will be proudly promoting all our member businesses, as well as selling their produce.

“With a venture like this, it is hoped greater demand will be created for every premises which sells locally-produced food. We want to raise awareness of what’s available to buy across Shetland.”

Shetland Food and Drink manager Jill Franklin said this summer’s pop-up is essentially a pilot to gauge the interest.

The organisation, formed last year, now has 20 full members – from Anderson Butchers and Fjara to Lerwick Brewery and Waas Bakery – and 30 associate members.

“We will be aiming to create a vibrant customer experience, with changing produce and regular tastings, so that there are plenty of reasons for Shetland folk and visitors alike to come to visit us,” Franklin said.

Chief executive of the Shetland Fish Producers’ Organisation Brian Isbister added that the “food and drinks industry in Shetland is bigger than any other industry in these islands, exceeding the value of oil, gas, agriculture, and tourism combined”.

The pop-up will open between 11am to 3pm from Monday to Saturday.