Scottish food processors receive ₤3m cash injection
The grants were made under the Food Processing, Marketing and Co-operation Scheme (FPMC), which has so far injected more than ₤25m into small and medium enterprises (SME) across the country and claims to have created or safeguarded up to 5,500 jobs.
Packaging and processing upgrades
The largest single award was made to Brussel sprout company R&K Drysdale which was given ₤647,347 for a processing, packing and storage building, refrigeration equipment and a sprout grading line. The total cost of the Berwickshire-based firm’s upgrade will reach ₤1.6m.
"The award creates further job opportunities as well as securing the long-term future for our existing 140 staff," said Chris Keenan, company managing director. “Without Scottish Government assistance, these developments could not have progressed.”
Continuing support
Other grants included:
- ₤377,812 for Mackies at Taypack. The potato crisp producer will use the cash as part of a near ₤1m upgrade to its plant - including installation of new packaging and processing equipment;
- Shetland Farm Dairy will receive just under ₤60,000 for a bottle liquid milk filling line and ice builder;
- Glasgow’s McQueen Dairy was awarded ₤343,040 towards a milk processing and packaging facility;
- Island Bakery, on the Island of Mull, was given ₤263,341 to help fund packaging equipment and a woodchip-fuelled biomass boiler and oven;
- £6,971 for Highland Drovers, a small Perth-based meat processor, for purchase and installation of a vacuum filling and portioning machine
Food Secretary Richard Lochhead said: "Scotland has a growing reputation as one of the world’s finest producers of quality food, and demand for the fruits of our wonderful natural larder is on the up.
"Some of our biggest opportunities lie in the food and drink sector, which saw sales increase by £1bn over 2007-08 from £10.2bn to £11.2bn. With demand for food on the increase, Scotland’s food producers are in a strong position going forward.”
He said the body would continue to support the nation’s food and drink sector.
