Feeding Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games

Athletes and spectators are sampling some of Scotland’s best food as the Commonwealth Games showcases the nation’s larder.

All caterers appointed by Glasgow 2014 have signed up to the Commonwealth Games Food Charter - the first of its kind in Scotland - which highlights the importance of where food is from and how it has been produced. The charter puts the focus firmly on sourcing local food, from sustainable and traceable sources.

Craig Lear, General Manager for catering at Glasgow 2014, said, “Scotland is a land of food and drink with some of the best natural produce in the world. The foods reared, grown and made here stand for quality - a value which people around the world attach to Scotland’s larder ... All our food suppliers have signed up to the Food Charter which means they too are focused on serving food which is local where possible, sustainable and ethically produced - and to giving people healthy options too.”

The 6,500 sportsmen and women and officials at the 2014 Athletes’ Village can enjoy a range of quality produce such as Scottish salmon and Arbroath Smokies, shortbread from Inverness and jam from the Highlands, black face lamb from Argyll and beef from Lanarkshire, strawberries from Angus, yoghurt from Wigtownshire and ice cream from Arran, Dunshire Blue Cheese from Lanarkshire and cured bacon from Dumfrieshire.

All bottled water used at every venue is Strathmore Scottish spring water. Part of the AG Barr family, Strathmore is bottled at source in the Vale of Strathmore near Glamis Castle, Scotland. Over 1 million bottles are expected to be used by the athletes and technical officials and another 1 million will be consumed by the public during games time.

Over the course of the games, it is estimated that more than 100 tonnes of fruit and vegetables, 10,000 loaves of bread and 60 tonnes of potatoes will be used and 25,000 litres of milk consumed.

Athletes, visitors and the workforce will also get through 8 tonnes of cheese, 6 tonnes of eggs, more than 10 tonnes each of seafood, poultry items and meat products.

The scale of the operation means huge challenges but the food and drink on sale around venues will also feature as many Scottish suppliers as possible. They include: Corrigan’s fish, Campbell’s, McGhee’s, Braehead foods, MJ Seafood’s, Direct food’s, Tartan Rocket, JR Fine foods, PJ’s, Graham’s Dairies, Stoats, Yorkes of Dundee, Clarkes, Fife Creamer, Bruces of Balmyle and Cobb’s Bakery.

Scotland’s Food Minister Richard Lochhead said, ‪“The Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games is the largest event ever staged in this country and the perfect platform to showcase Scotland’s outstanding natural larder. The two million meals that will be served at the games represent two million opportunities to dish up the finest food and drink Scotland has to offer to athletes, team officials, media and spectators from across the globe. The Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games Food Charter, which I helped launch last year, means the Glasgow 2014 menu will offer local food, where possible, from sustainable and traceable sources offering ethical, safe, and healthy choices. These principles and standards should serve as the basis for other events in future and will be at the core of Scotland's journey to becoming a Good Food Nation.”

The Food Charter has been developed with advice from:

• Scottish Government Food and Drink Industry Division

• Scotland Food & Drink (and related industry stakeholders including Quality Meat Scotland; Seafood Scotland; Scottish Bakers and Soil Association Scotland)

• Scottish Enterprise

• Glasgow City Council

• Food Standards Agency – Scotland

• British Hospitality Association

• Glasgow Restaurant Association

• NHS Health Scotland