FIFE Creamery has officially opened its new food to go training centre, after six months of successful trading.
A plaque was unveiled by Mairi Gougeon, rural affairs minister, who told Scottish Grocer that the convenience sector was “vitally important” to help keep communities alive.
“Convenience food is on the increase, we really want to do what we can to work with the sector and encourage this.
“These are vital businesses within our communities and we’ve got to do all we can to support them,” she said.
Fife Creamery’s sales director Steve Appolinari said more than 60 retailers had visited the training centre since it opened last summer, but that he would encourage more to come along and consider setting up food to go.
“The decline is there in the independent retail sector, it is there to be seen,” he said.
“There are stores doing the best they can, but if they don’t diversify and pick up food to go then they are going to fall behind.
“Not only will food to go attract customers, but you will get an undoubted increase in turnover.
“This training centre is open to retailers of all sizes, all demographics: its not one size fits all.”
