The people of Scotland go to the polls tomorrow to determine whether they want to become and independent nation or stay within the Union of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. It is a momentous day for many reasons.

Come Friday morning when the result is known, what would a yes or no vote mean for the thriving Scottish foodservice and catering industries?

According to an article we’ve seen on on the internet recently, some consultancies and industry analysts are predicting that the sectors could be in line for a boost – if the ‘Yes’ movement wins.

This is at direct odds with some other businesses, most noticeably those anchored in retail, who have warned that splitting away from the United Kingdom would, probably, drive prices upwards and impact trade.

Currently, the Scottish foodservice market is estimated to be worth just over £3 billion, accounting for nearly 7% of the UK’s total.

“Scotland lags behind the rest of the UK in terms of eating out, and particularly sectors such as casual dining and quick service so we are likely to see growth,” said Peter Backman of the consultancy group Horizons.

“An independent Scotland could see renewed interest in eating out as tourism is boosted alongside business,” Backman added.

On average, people in Scotland spend an average of £602 a year when eating out. This figure is lower than the UK average spend, which comes in at £724 per annum -that’s 17% more than.

But one area in the catering sector where Scotland leads the rest of the Union is dining out in hotels, which represents a substantial portion of their market at 33%.

However, other industry analysts predict that annual growth for the Scottish foodservice sector will mirror that of the rest of the United Kingdom at 2.1% and, crucially, there won’t be a sudden Scottish resurgence.

Photo: W. L. Tarbert, via Wikimedia Commons