£70m food fund for Scotland

A funding programme for food and drink businesses across Scotland has been launched by cabinet secretary for food, Richard Lochhead. The new Food Processing, Marketing and Co-operation (FPMC) grant scheme is now open for capital related applications. It will widen to non-capital and co-operation bids later this year.
The scheme will plough £70 million into food and drink processing in Scotland as part of the new Scottish Rural Development Programme (SRDP) 2014-2020, which is expected to receive formal EU approval shortly.
Lochhead says, “Scotland’s £13.9 billion food and drink growth sector has already rocketed since 2007. Turnover here has shot up 21% compared to growth of 8.6% across the rest of the UK, with Scotland’s massive success fuelled by the unwavering support of the Scottish government and our agencies.
“Under the last food grants scheme, the Scottish government supported in 172 projects between 2007 and 2013. Our £47 million investment levered in £114 million private sector funding and safeguarded or created about 8,500 jobs.
“I am delighted to be launching the new scheme in Scotland’s Year of Food and Drink, and to have increased funding by 50%, which will enable us to invest even more in Scottish food and drink businesses.”