Scotland’s food and drink growth sector generated a record turnover of £14.3 billion in 2013, food secretary Richard Lochhead announces.

New analysis from the Scottish government shows sector turnover is up £550 million on the year before and a staggering 24% increase since 2008. This means that Scotland’s food and drink growth sector is on track to meet the industry’s turnover target of £16.5 billion by 2017.

Food and drink manufacturing, which accounts for approximately three quarters of the total turnover figure, has grown twice as fast since 2008 as food and drink manufacturing in the UK as a whole.

Lochead explains, “Our food and drink growth sector is a spectacular Scottish success story with turnover reaching a record high in 2013. To surpass £14 billion for the first time is simply outstanding and must give the sector real confidence.

“It is because of this joint approach that we are leaps and bounds ahead of the rest of the UK with food and drink manufacturing in Scotland, for example, growing at twice the UK rate between 2008 and 2013.”

James Withers, Scottish food and drink chief executive, adds, “The success is a direct outcome of the collaboration we’ve developed in Scotland with different organisations, government and individual companies working collectively. It has been a game changer and has built a national identity for Scottish food and drink, driving growth at twice the rate of the UK average.

“No sector is without challenges. In food and drink, there are rising costs, variable exchange rates and really challenging times for farmers and fishermen who underpin the sector. However, the opportunities outweigh the challenges and we’ve earmarked over £2 billion in further growth in the next few years.”