FOOD STANDARD Agency Scotland's director Dr George Paterson, recipient of a CBE in the Queen's New Year Honours list, was in fine form at last week's Scottish Wholesale Achievers awards in the plush surroundings of the Sheraton Grand, Edinburgh. Ensuring that the folks at his table were up to speed with the FSA's recommendation that we eat no more than 6g of salt per day, he refused to pass the salt to a fellow diner. He quipped: "Absolutely not! I'm the Food Standards Agency and I'm confiscating it." Congratulations, incidentally, to Glasgow-based wholesaler and cash and carry JW Filshill, winner of the overall Champion of Champions gong for the second year in succession.

DESPITE Dr Paterson's best salt intentions, he wasn't around at breakfast the next morning when the toast wars broke out. Like far too many hotels around the country, the Sheraton Grand prefers that guests make their own. The solitary toaster in the dining room, however, had other ideas. Not unlike some of the guests who were feeling somewhat jaded and probably late for work after celebrating too hard after the Achievers dinner, it was being a bit temperamental. Frustrated at having to queue six-deep to make their own toast, some simply gave up. Others, Agenda included, complained vocally, sending waiting staff scurrying for cover. So here comes a rallying cry to hotels Scotland-over: please, please, please go back to the good old days and make our toast for us!

A GROUP of leading Scottish manufacturing brands are collaborating with some of the country's top designers to help build their international profiles in the fashion markets. The results will be unveiled at a special Scottish showcase at London Fashion Week next month, where companies and designers will be meeting with international fashion journalists, buyers and collectors. Ten well-known brands are currently working with 11 designers, all of whom were either born in Scotland or attended college here. The new collaborations include luxury cloth specialist Holland & Sherry working with Glasgow-born designer Deryck Williams, who gained experience with labels such as Boudicca, Robert-Carey Williams and Versace before establishing his own London-based menswear label in 2004. Lochcarron of Scotland will be featuring its latest designs by Niki Taylor, pictured, a former fashion student of the Scottish College of Textiles in Galashiels. Taylor invented the Stilli design, a sock boot with in-built sole, which transforms shoes into boots and is stocked by a range of independent fashion boutiques. Key international markets targeted are the US, Japan and Europe.

MARA Menzies's new children's stories are inspired by folk tales her grandmother read to her when she was growing up in Kenya . Edinburgh-based Menzies, 29 - a young mum herself - is targeting her stories at four to eight-year-olds and the first book, Koko the Crocodile, illustrated by Camilla Adams, is selling well. She has also set up her own publishing company, Toto Tales. There have been interactive workshops held in the capital that encourage children to create crafts based on the story, and there are plans for a second book later on this year. Whether she can become the next JK Rowling remains to be seen.