Armed with a recent £1 million trade loan to scale production for international markets, including China, Aberdeenshire-based Dean’s of Huntly is gearing up to share its export insights at an upcoming industry event.

To help other Scottish and UK brands navigate this shifting landscape, Norman Donald, Commercial manager at Dean’s of Huntly, will speak at the China Country Clinic: China Food & Drink 2026 – Where the Growth Opportunities Are for UK Brands.

Hosted online by the China-Britain Business Council (CBBC) and the Food & Drink Exporters Association (FDEA) on 30 September, the session will address how the route to growth in China has changed and how consumer habits continue to shift.

The Chinese food and drink market continues to offer significant opportunities, but the days of easy growth are over. Consumers are increasingly value-conscious, and competition from domestic brands is fiercer than ever. The clinic will unpack these shifts, exploring the growing influence of content-led commerce on platforms like Douyin and RedNote, as well as the rising demand for health and functional products, localisation, value versus premiumisation, and opportunities beyond China’s traditional top-tier consumers.

Norman Donald will be joined by experts including Antoaneta Becker, director of consumer economy, CBBC, Karen Beston , head of exhibitions & events, PS8, and Sarah Henderson, international sales & marketing manager, Taylors of Harrogate.

For more details and to sign up for the event, visit: https://www.cbbc.org/events/china-country-clinic-fdea-china-food-drink-2026-where-growth-opportunities-are-uk-brands