FOOD AND drink companies seeking to improve profitability through better branding could do worse than take a few tasters from Eddie Stableford, the renowned industry expert whose magic touch has rubbed off on a host of illustrious brands over the years - American Express, Moet & Chandon and Peugeot to name just a few. Now running Bryt Brilliant Brand Thinking, the company he founded in 1999, Stableford has been invited to chair the Scotland Food And Drink Branding Conference at Murrayshall Hotel in Perth on October 25. And with the award-winning No Catch, the world's first organic, sustainable farmed cod from Shetland-based Johnson Sustainable Seafoods among his most recent successes, Stableford can expect a hungry audience. Call Sarah Francis on 0131 557 5767 for details.

STILL on a foodie theme, it's great to see two Scottish fish and chip shops - both occasionally frequented by Agenda - shortlisted in the Fish & Chip Shop Of The Year Awards. Anstruther Fish Bar, that world-famous Fife institution owned by Alison and Robert Smith, below, and Gordon Hillan's Townhead Café in Biggar are flying the flag for Scotland. They are among 19 area winners announced by awards organiser Seafish, earlier in the week. Regional finalists will be revealed next month with the national winner presented with the top award by bouncy TV chef Ainsley Harriott in London in January. And a personal plea to fish and chip shops everywhere: please go back to wrapping them in newspaper!

AMID the dearth of a single birthday card in the post last weekend thanks to the postal strike, Agenda was feeling somewhat miffed. Checking our emails, however, we were instantly cheered by birthday wishes from that excellent single malt whisky Laphroaig. As a member of Friends of Laphroaig, we received a nice message along with a picture of the staff at the distillery on Islay. Thanks guys - you made our day!

CALLING "Sophie" at the top of your voice is as likely to result in a cat padding into the room instead of a little girl. This is the sixth-favourite name for girls - but fourth-favourite of British cat owners - according to high street retailer Debenhams. A survey by its online insurance service also reveals that while "Max" occupies the top spot for male dog names, it is also among the most popular boys' names. "Our selection of dog and cat names has thrown up interesting parallels between the UK's dog and cat owners' choice of name for their pets, and parents choosing their kids' names," says Debenhams's Diane Jackson, head of personal finance. Quite. Although the reason for the survey is a serious one - many pet owners are neglecting to insure their four-legged friends then being caught out by rising vets' bills.

HOUSEBUILDER Persimmon Homes East Scotland's technical director, Duncan Garry, went back to his roots as a quantity surveyor to raise funds for the recent nationwide Back To The Shop Floor fundraising event for Marie Curie Cancer Care. Garry and the Bathgate-based company's design manager, Neil Parry, were sponsored to assume junior roles for this year's event. The initiative aims to encourage senior managers to spend the day, or part of it, performing a role outside of their normal duties. What's more, the charity hopes to raise £250,000. Garry said: "Back To The Shop Floor was the first time we have taken on junior roles for a number of years and it was certainly interesting to see how techniques have changed since we entered the industry."