Latest news with #IanGeorgeson
The Herald Scotland
27-05-2025
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
Scottish food firm plots bold expansion in Dubai
With a trading presence in the Middle East for more than 30 years, the family-owned Scottish firm has recognised the opportunity to dramatically scale its offer by investing in its own local facility. Ed Widdowson, Chief Executive Officer of Macphie, said: 'We know from experience that our best results come when we engage directly with our customers in their home territory. The Dubai Customer Centre will allow us to do exactly that - and demonstrate how our ingredients can make a real difference in kitchens and bakeries. 'Our ambition is to go beyond supplying product. We want to be partners in innovation, helping our customers solve their biggest culinary and operational challenges. Dubai gives us the ideal platform to do just that.' Ed Widdowson, Chief Executive Officer of Macphie (Image: Ian Georgeson) The new Customer Centre will serve as a launchpad to deliver tailored, chef and baker-led food solutions to some of the world's most recognisable food brands. Set within a 175 sq m state-of-the-art kitchen, the Dubai hub will offer a dedicated space where Macphie's team can demonstrate product performance in a customer-focused environment. The space has been designed to reflect real-world kitchen conditions and will allow visiting chefs and bakers to experience how Macphie products can meet their specific needs. Visits will be strictly by appointment, ensuring a bespoke and collaborative experience for every client. Macphie's Dubai base will support long-standing relationships with distribution partners in the region such as Modern Bakery in the UAE who have served as importers for the family business. However, its core aim is to own the customer journey more directly, building lasting connections with end users and increasing demand across its full product range. Dr. Fawaz Al Bahri, CEO of Modern Bakery said: 'Our partnership with Macphie spans nearly three decades, built on shared values of quality, consistency and innovation. READ MORE: 'Their investment in a dedicated base in the Middle East is a welcome development and a clear sign of their long-term commitment to the region. We're excited about the opportunities this creates for deeper collaboration and mutual growth.' Macphie said the expansion will also cement its position as a global food solutions provider, with a three-year goal to dramatically grow sales in the region and provide a significant boost in profitability. The £100,000 investment into the Customer Centre will allow Macphie's team of chefs and bakers to replicate customer menus using its ambient UHT sauces and sweet bakery solutions. These will be tailored to the challenges of the Middle Eastern environment, allowing for the region's high humidity and ensuring ingredient consistency. The move complements Macphie's vision to be the go-to partner for food brands around the world. Mr Widdowson added: 'There is a clear appetite for what we offer, products that deliver consistency, quality and ease of use and a team that works hand-in-hand with chefs and bakers to create outstanding dishes.' Founded in 1928, Macphie employs over 250 people across its three UK sites and has grown from its roots as a bakery wholesaler into a trusted supplier to major international food brands. The company focuses on delivering premium ready-to-use sauces, inclusions and bakery products to its restaurant, bakery, retail and food-to-go customers.
The Herald Scotland
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Herald Scotland
Scottish Young Musicians Solo Performer of the Year announced
First place in the 2025 Solo Performer of the Year was awarded to Dunfermline High School student Inver Shand, who took up the accordion at the age of six. He performed two pieces as part of his seven-minute submission: the first was Carnevale, a challenging, Latin-influenced contemporary arrangement by Italian jazz musician and composer Renzo Ruggieri; the second piece was his own take on Phil Cunningham's much-loved and hugely atmospheric Loch Katrine's Lady. Inver drew praise for the speed and intricacy of his playing. (Image: Ian Georgeson) Hailing from a hugely musical family, in recent years Shand has performed in both France and Portugal, and has also collected numerous other awards. With his older brother Clelland and sister Blythe, he is part of 'The Shands' – a musical group recognised as Up and Coming Artist of the Year in 2023, and which was invited to perform during King Charles' visit to Dunfermline Abbey. Last year, Shand also won Senior All Scotland Accordion Championships despite being just sixteen years old, which is the lower age limit for the competition. Runner-up positions for Solo Performer of the Year were awarded to James Rippiner from Aberdeenshire and Aeronwy Gault from East Dunbartonshire. Violinist James Rippiner was an overall runner up and the winner of the strings category (Image: Ian Georgeson) Fourteen-year-old Rippiner of Banchory Academy was recognised following an impeccable violin performance featuring two pieces: Nocturne in C-sharp minor by Frederic Chopin and It Ain't Necessarily So from the opera Porgy and Bess. READ MORE In the other runner-up slot, fifteen-year-old Gault earned praise for a controlled, dynamic, and hugely expressive performance of La Cathedrale Engloutie from Claude Debussy's Preludes Book 1. A student at the Music School of Douglas Academy, she also plays both the violin and the harpsichord and is about to perform her first Keyboard Concerto. Aeronwy Gault's performance of a Debussy prelude earned her a runner up spot (Image: Ian Georgeson) The national final marked the culmination of a programme that, for the first time, included entrants from state schools in every local authority across the country. Each council area, as well as the independent schools sector, submitted a regional winner, all of whom then had the opportunity to perform in front of a live audience in the Stevenson Hall of the RCS. Alan Kerr, Chair of Scottish Young Musicians, said: 'Today marks an important milestone in Scottish Young Musicians history. From a standing start only four years ago, SYM has grown at a remarkable speed, and for the first time will have a talented finalist from all of Scotland's 32 local authority areas performing in the Solo Final. 'This represents the finale of an incredible year which saw our Festival of Music Competitions being offered to every secondary school. The brass and open ensemble competition have come of age to have their very own electrifying live final. 'Overall, hundreds of individual events included thousands of students from all backgrounds and levels of ability, making SYM the largest music education charity in the country. 'I am extremely grateful to the team that made this possible, and we are all energised to start again next year with the ambition to grow SYM even more, bringing opportunities and experiences to young people everywhere in Scotland.'
The National
24-05-2025
- Business
- The National
American Airlines resumes Edinburgh flights for first time in 6 years
American Airlines resumed its service between Edinburgh and Philadelphia on Saturday, marking the airline's first flight from the capital since 2019. The route, served by a Boeing 787-800 aircraft, will operate from May 24 until October 5. (Image: Ian Georgeson) (Image: Ian Georgeson) (Image: Ian Georgeson) Gordon Dewar, chief executive at Edinburgh Airport, said: 'We are thrilled to see American Airlines back at Edinburgh for the first time since 2019. 'The return of the Philadelphia route not only strengthens our transatlantic connectivity but also marks a significant milestone as we reconnect with all of our pre-Covid transatlantic routes as well as adding even more connections since then. READ MORE: Culture Secretary welcomes BBC update on Scottish shows after Traitors row 'It's a clear sign of growing confidence in international travel, and Edinburgh as a prosperous hub for it. We're glad to be offering even more choice to passengers looking to explore both Scotland and the US.' Jose A Freig, vice president of international operations, said: 'After almost six years away, we're excited to return to Edinburgh. While many of our customers look for sunny seaside escapes over summer, they also want to explore cities steeped in culture and history –both of which Edinburgh and Philadelphia offer in spades. 'With this route, our customers in Scotland will have access to our premier hub in Philadelphia, from where they can connect to more than 120 destinations in the US and beyond.' Edinburgh Airport connects Scottish passengers to several destinations in the US, including direct flights to Atlanta, Boston, Chicago and New York.
Scottish Sun
29-04-2025
- Business
- Scottish Sun
Supermarket giant slashes price of bargain kids' cafe meal deal to just 60p
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) FOR the month of May, kids can tuck into a delicious lunch for just 60p at a major supermarket. The cheap-as-chips meal deal will be on offer in 205 Asda stores across the country. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 2 Children can enjoy tasty meals for just 60p at Asda Credit: Ian Georgeson The huge discount is to celebrate 60 years of Asda supporting families with low prices. A family with four children can enjoy a hot meal for less than £2.50 from May 1 to 31. From June, kids' meals will return to the normal price of £1, which is still a bargain. Kids can choose from a hot or cold meal, with a variety of dishes on offer. On the hot menu is a choice of penne pasta with meatballs, chicken nuggets, fish fingers, jacket potato, hidden veg pasta and margherita pizza. And as the warm days start rolling in, little ones can get their paws on a sandwich, drink, piece of fruit, and a 'treat item'. There are also free pouches of baby food on offer too. Ian McEvans, Vice President - Commercial Food at Asda said: 'Asda has a rich heritage in supporting families and reducing our already hugely popular Kids Eat for £1 initiative to 60p is the perfect way to highlight that and to kick-start our 60th birthday celebrations. 'We know families face financial pressures when it comes feeding their children, not just during the school holidays, but all year round. "We've served over six million meals since we first launched the initiative in 2022, proving what a lifeline it is to families across the UK, so I'm delighted that we can drop the price to 60p this May and hope to reduce some of that pressure even further.' I transformed my council house into a pinkmas Christmas paradise with Asda & B&M buys - trolls say it's 'too cluttered' Tesco, Morrisons, M&S, Waitrose and Sainsbury's all offer kids menus in their cafe stores. At Sainsbury's, kids can tuck into a main and three sides for £3.25, or enjoy a cheese or ham sandwich, two snacks and a drink for the same price. However, if the children's meal is purchased with an adult-sized lunch costing £5.20 or more, it is just £1 for kiddos to chow down. The hot options include shroomdogs, chicken nuggets, cheese and tomato pasta or omega-3 fish fingers. Tesco offers various 'kids eat free' schemes throughout the year. In 2024, the supermarket provided 404,499 free meals to children and families throughout the school holidays. At Morrisons, children select one free meal from the kids' menu with any adult meal with a value of £4.50 or over. Waitrose launched a scheme for myWaitrose shoppers where a kids' lunch bag or hot meal is free after parents spend £5 or more. M&S also offers kids eat free deals at various times of the year. This comes after Morrisons handed out free doughnuts in stores across the country. Asda Cafe store list The following Asda stores contain their own cafe, serving a variety of hot and cold food at low prices. Aberdare Andover Blackpool Bury St Edmunds Chorley Clackton On Sea Coventry Doncaster Dudley Eastgate Eastbourne Gloucester Grimsby Harlow Horwich Kettering Leith Milton Keynes Northwich Perth Plymouth Rotherham Rugby Sheffield Drakehouse Sittingbourne Tilbury Tweedmouth Weymouth Wolverhampton York For the full list, click here. The sweet treat was a freebie with every refillable hot drink purchased from an in-store cafe. The deal ended on April 27. But for some customers, the deal wasn't enough to sugar coat the supermarket's decision to shut 54 of its cafes and 17 stores. The news sparked fears the Kids Eat Free and Free Fruit initiatives could also be scrapped, but Morrisons has now confirmed that this will not be the case. A spokesperson told The Sun: "The Kids Eat Free offer in partnership with Birds Eye remains as does the free fruit for kids." The supermarket also hands out free fruit to children within its stores, that is at risk of not being sold before its best before date. The offer is available every day, and aims to reduce food waste, whilst helping kids to reach their five a day.
