Food and Drink Federation report highlights sector’s importance to nation’s economy
FOOD and drink production contributes £5.2billion to the Scottish economy and provides 47,000 jobs, according to a report.
The Food and Drink Federation (FDF) findings also revealed the sector has grown by 36.5% over a decade and accounts for almost a third of Scotland’s manufacturing turnover.
FDF Scotland chief exec David Thomson is calling for the Scottish Government to prioritise further growth to protect the nation’s food security and ensure the sector can continue to drive the economy.
And Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes underlined the importance of the sector when she addressed an FDF Scotland Parliamentary reception last month.
She described the food and drink industry as dynamic, saying no other sector was as effective at creating prosperity either locally or nationally.
Forbes said it was “a no-brainer” to support food and drink businesses and vowed the Scottish Government would do its bit to help firms navigate the burden of regulation.
She said the work of FDF Scotland was crucial to the sector’s growth and the healthier, high-quality goods now being made by the nation’s producers.
Forbes concluded: “Your industry has withstood considerable headwinds and continues to do so. In light of that, we’re committed to supporting you.”
Showing its support, the Scottish Government recently announced that it was providing a further year’s funding to FDF Scotland’s Reformulation for Health Programme.
Since 2019, the programme has been supporting Scottish SME food and drink businesses to make everyday food and drink healthier. This has resulted in billions of calories and tonnes of fat, salt and sugar being removed from the Scottish diet.
Public Health Minister Jenni Minto revealed the cash boost during a visit to famous Scottish butcher’s brand Malcolm Allan.
During the visit, Minto had the opportunity to see Malcolm Allan’s famous lorne sausages and steak pies being made, while hearing about their successful projects to make their food healthier.
Malcolm Allan benefited from bespoke support from the Reformulation for Health Programme and £5,000 funding from the scheme’s Reformul8 Challenge Fund.
Minto said: “I congratulate Malcolm Allan on reformulating popular recipes to make them healthier, setting an example to manufacturers across Scotland.”
FDF Scotland Reformulation for Health manager Joanne Burns added: “We are delighted to receive another year’s funding from the Scottish Government, allowing us to support more Scottish food and drink businesses to make their food healthier, from butchers and bakers to ready meal makers.”
