Investing In The Food Industry

8th August 2020

Food and drink businesses across Scotland have been awarded a share of £5 million to invest in infrastructure, purchase new equipment and upgrade or replace facilities.

In total 30 businesses will receive Food Processing, Marketing and Cooperation (FPMC) grants to support the food supply chain, safeguarding 1,386 jobs and creating 97 new ones.

The projects include improving storage facilities for oats, investing in new root vegetable processing equipment and purchasing new equipment to set up a Hebridean charcuterie business.

Announcing the funding, Rural Economy Secretary Fergus Ewing said:"The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has underlined the importance of a strong and effective food supply chain and an increased consumer desire for locally produced food. This support will enable established producers and businesses across Scotland look to the future and capitalise on emerging marketing opportunities, as well as offer support to start-up businesses.

“This scheme uses joint Scottish Government and European Union funding to give local businesses a helping hand, helping to ensure the long-term viability of our primary producers. Investing in local producers is an important step to help sustain and create employment opportunities within our rural communities."

Stuart Allan of Melrose Farms near Banff, Aberdeenshire, said:“We are very grateful to have received this FPMC grant. It will provide great opportunities and potential within our field of work and will be used to build a new facility on our farm for dressing, drying and storing oats. It will also help support our future plans for the business to grow.”

This is the ninth round of the Food Processing, Marketing and Cooperation (FPMC) scheme which provides start-up and development grants to food and drink suppliers and producers.

FPMC grants 2020:

2 Sisters Food Group Limited - Coupar Angus, Blairgowrie

To deliver a range of improvements to the equipment and infrastructure to their poultry processing facility, including a spiral freezer and plant room, equipment and infrastructure to support the production of value-added meal ingredients, External improvements to the site and roof upgrades to cover all production areas at Coupar Angus.

Gross Project Costs: £5,159,700