- Stranraer Oyster Festival is one of Galloway’s biggest events and takes place from 12-14 September 2025
- The community-run festival celebrates Scotland’s last wild, native oyster fishery
- Lactalis employs more than 220 people in Stranraer, and support for the festival illustrates the company’s commitment to the local community
Lactalis UK & Ireland, one of Stranraer’s biggest local employers, has been announced as the headline sponsor of Stranraer Oyster Festival 2025.
The company is part of the world’s largest dairy company and operates two manufacturing sites in Stranraer, The Caledonian Cheese Company, which produces Scottish cheddar for the Seriously and Galloway brands, and McLelland Cheese Packing which specialises in packing block, grated, and sliced cheddar.
The partnership represents a significant boost for the community-led event, which celebrates Scotland’s last wild, native oyster fishery, with the oyster bed located just a stone’s throw from the festival site in scenic Loch Ryan.
Taking place from 12-14 September 2025, Stranraer Oyster Festival has grown to become one of Scotland’s most successful food festivals. It launched in 2017 to change perceptions of the former ferry port from one of economic decline to a story of tourism potential. The annual festival has since generated almost £10 million in economic impact for the local area, has supported hundreds of jobs, showcased local businesses and producers and kickstarted an ambitious programme of community-led regeneration for the town.
Speaking on behalf of Lactalis, Stranraer-born and based, Kevin Hamilton said:
“We are absolutely delighted to be supporting the Stranraer Oyster Festival as headline sponsor. Our Stranraer teams produce some of Scotland’s finest cheese, and we see the same passion and commitment to excellence reflected in everything the Oyster Festival represents.
“This partnership is about backing a community that takes pride in its roots and looks confidently to the future — a community that celebrates its heritage while showcasing the very best of what our town has to offer. The festival’s celebration of quality produce and strong community spirit aligns perfectly with our values as a company that has been proud to call Stranraer home for many years.”
Romano Petrucci, Chair of Stranraer Development Trust, the community organisation which organises the festival, welcomed the sponsorship:
“When we dreamed up this festival eight years ago, we never imagined we’d have the world’s biggest dairy company backing us as headline sponsor, but that’s exactly the kind of confidence Stranraer inspires now.
“Lactalis employs hundreds of people. They know our community inside out, and their support sends a powerful message – that this town has ambition, it has potential, and it is absolutely going places. We are not just putting on a festival anymore, we’re showcasing what happens when a community refuses to be written off.
“We’re building something truly special for Stranraer Oyster Festival 2025. Expect celebrity chefs at the top of their game, music that’ll lift the roof, and experiences you simply can’t get anywhere else. Our full programme launches on 12th June and trust me, people are going to want to get their tickets early.”
The festival has also announced that Rock Island whisky, from Douglas Laing, will sponsor the Kitchen Marquee, where celebrity chef demonstrations take place throughout the three-day event.
Chloe Wood, Rock Island Brand Manager, said:
“Stranraer Oyster Festival has been on our radar for several years, and we’re delighted to be involved in the 2025 edition. We’ve watched the festival go from strength to strength, and this year looks set to be no exception. Our Rock Island Blended Malt Scotch Whisky pairs beautifully with oysters, seafood, and more – so we’re excited to collaborate with the talented chefs taking part in the world-class demonstrations, as well as to be poured at various locations across the festival. With its maritime character, Rock Island is the ideal partner to celebrate Scotland’s remarkable coastal larder – and there’s no better place to showcase that than Stranraer’s stunning harbourside setting.”
Allan Jenkins, Events Officer for Stranraer Development Trust, said:
“Having powerhouse sponsors like Lactalis and Rock Island whisky backing us shows just how far this festival has come. We started as a community with a big dream, and now we’re working with world-class partners to deliver something truly extraordinary. The 2025 festival is going to be our most ambitious yet. When we announce the full programme on 12th June, people will see exactly why Stranraer Oyster Festival has become a must-visit event.”
The new sponsors join existing long-term sponsors Stranraer Skills Station and Loch Ryan Oyster Fishery Company. Stranraer Oyster Festival is also supported by Dumfries and Galloway Council’s Signature Events programme and the Coastal Benefit Fund, and the work of Stranraer Development Trust is supported by South of Scotland Enterprise.
Loch Ryan’s native oyster beds are an ecological treasure and one of the most important oyster beds in Europe. While most of the UK’s native oyster beds were wiped out through over fishing the Loch Ryan oyster bed is thought to have survived because it has been protected by a Royal Charter since 1701.
Sustainable management of the bed has seen it grow substantially in recent decades, with 95% of each catch being returned to the water, in densely laid beds to maximise fertility. Oysters from Loch Ryan are also being used to ‘seed’ oyster bed restoration projects in other coastal areas of the UK and in mainland Europe.
Stranraer Oyster Festival 2025 will take place from Friday 12th to Sunday 14th September. The full programme will be unveiled on 12 June when tickets go on sale. Further details about the festival can be found at www.stranraeroysterfestival.com
