Burns Night ‘boosts UK economy by billions’

The traditional Burns Night supper of haggis and a dram of Scotch whisky is so popular across the world that sales have generated billions for the UK economy.

The annual celebration of Scottish poet Robert Burns’ birthday is helping boost sales of both Scotch whisky and haggis

According to figures released by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), the UK exported £4.85 million of haggis over the last four years to 28 countries.

Outside of the UK, Ireland, France, Spain and Hong Kong are the biggest consumers of haggis, sales of which have grown 51% between 211-2013.

At the same time, exports of Scotch whisky grew 24% between 2010-2013 to £4.37 billion, contributing to a record year for the UK food chain that generated £103bn for the UK economy in 2013.

Elizabeth Truss, environment secretary, said: “Robert Burns called haggis the ‘great chieftain o’ the pudding-race’ and it’s wonderful that more than 200 years later, this delicious, wholesome dish is now being appreciated around the world.

“In a Burns night meal, nothing goes better with haggis than a dram of Scotch whisky, one of our greatest export success stories.”

Burns’ Night – the annual celebration of Scottish poet Robert Burns’ birthday – is recognised across the world on  25 January.