US Export Plan - Sector Report - Food and Drink

Table: Top Priority States for Scotland in the Sector

The table below provides a summary of the top five priority states identified in the Matrix model, which have been cross-referenced with research, analysis and stakeholder engagement.

State: Florida

Strengths/opportunities

• Notable UK imports in food and drink
• High consumer spend
• High value F&D sales:$107.3bn
• UK-US MOU in place
• Strong premium offering (particularly in Miami and central Florida)
• High number of Michelin star restaurants (31)
• 3rd highest state importer of UK seafood.

Notable sub-sector Opportunities for Scottish exporters

• Seafood
• Scotch Whisky
• Dairy
• Health-oriented beverages (emerging opportunity)

State level risks/considerations for Scottish exporters

• Specifically allows counties to elect to go dry by public referendum.
• Primary American Source of supply (“PASS”) registration is mandatory: each whisky brand must have a US bottler or exclusive agent registered in Florida.
• Demands competitive pricing

State: California

Strengths/opportunities

• Notable UK imports in food and drink
• 2ND highest state importer of UK seafood imports (%)
• High consumer spend
• Highest F&D sales (US$):$220.1bn
• Highest F&D VC deals
• Highest no. of F&D businesses
• Highest F&D GDP: $134,044m
• Strong premium offering (Particularly in Los Angeles and San Francisco)
• High spirits consumption
• Highest number of Michelin star restaurants (87)
• Famous artisanal markets: Ferry Building Market Place, Santa Monica Farmers Market

Notable sub-sector Opportunities for Scottish exporters

• Seafood
• Scotch Whisky
• Dairy
• Health-oriented beverages (emerging opportunity)

State level risks/considerations for Scottish exporters

• Specifically allows local jurisdictions to enact liquor laws that are stricter than state law.
• Demands competitive pricing
• Strong competition from other exporting nations (e.g. China, Mexico & Taiwan account for 46% of all F&D imports)
• Labelling specifics: Prop 65 Warning Requirement - short-form warnings must specifically name at least one chemical
• Packing rules: Recycled content mandate
• Bottle bill (incl. spirits)

State: New York

Strengths/opportunities

• Notable UK imports in food and drink
• High consumer spend
• High value F&D sales (US$): $98.7bn
• 2nd highest F&D VC deals
• Strong premium offering with 70 Michelin star restaurants
• Hub for Scottish food and drink trade shows e.g. Summer Fancy Food show
• Iconic food market: Chelsea Market
• Scotland-US MOU (incl. sector focus on food and drink)

Notable sub-sector Opportunities for Scottish exporters

• Seafood
• Scotch Whisky
• Dairy
• Health-oriented beverages (emerging opportunity)

State level risks/considerations for Scottish exporters

• Allows cities and counties to exercise a local option by public referendum whether to go dry.
• Labelling: enforces strict ingredient and allergen labelling under state codes.
• Bottle bill (but excludes spirits)
• Demands competitive pricing

State: Texas

Strengths/opportunities

• Very high UK imports in beverages
• High FDI inflows in food and drink
• High value F&D sales (US$): $137.8bn
• High GDP in food & drink sector: $85,149m
• High spirits consumption – with strong demand for premium and super-premium categories
• UK-US MOU in place
• Strong logistics hub

Notable sub-sector Opportunities for Scottish exporters

• Whisky

State level risks/considerations for Scottish exporters

• Allows local jurisdictions to classify whether it is "wet" or "dry," and does not limit how that decision shall be made.
• Demands competitive pricing
• Premium whisky growth persists, but broader whisky category shows mixed trends.
• Additive warning law for packaged foods containing certain additives (from 2027)

State: Illinois

Strengths/opportunities

• Notable UK imports in food and drink
• Strong premium offering (particularly in Chicago)
• High number of Michelin star restaurants (19)
• High F&D VC deals

Notable sub-sector Opportunities for Scottish exporters

• Seafood
• Whisky
• Dairy
• Health-oriented beverages (emerging opportunity)

State level risks/considerations for Scottish exporters

• Commercial importation of alcoholic liquor into Illinois requires a formal importer's license from Illinois Liquor Control Commission (ILCC)
• Seafoods processed, packaged, or held at wholesale in-state must register under Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) Manufactured Food programme and undergo inspection.
• Demands competitive pricing