Investment by Kirkcaldy firm

Company hopes to win major council contract

A Kirkcaldy company has made a £200,000 investment in anticipation of winning a contract to supply Fife Council with frozen food.

William Yule and Son Limited is one of 11 companies selected as part of the Scotland Excel contract that helps councils source a range of produce.

Nationally, the Scotland Excel contract is worth £25 million a year, with William Yule tendering for the Fife contract for frozen food to be served in schools, nurseries, and other council properties.

The company’s managing director Mike Patterson said it would now tender for the contract along with a Kent company, which was also approved by Scotland Excel.

He said: “Should we be successful, which we are hoping, it will certainly be good news for the company as it will lead to us recruiting at least another four staff and putting another couple of vehicles on the road.

“We’ll be doing everything to convince the customer that we are the right choice.”

The company, which employs 42 people from its premises at Park Road, has been a Fife Council supplier for the past 25 years. The firm is also hoping to supply Stirling Council, who do not use the Scotland Excel system.

Mr Patterson said the company had invested heavily this year despite tough trading conditions since the Brexit vote.

He added: “The fallout from the collapse in the exchange rate after Brexit has made life very difficult for everybody in our sector.

“We are continuing to invest despite the trading conditions. Having been in business for the last 150 years we have no intention of disappearing any time soon.

“In the last two months we have spent £200,000 on extending our freezer capacity in anticipation of getting this contract and a new IT system.”

Picture: PA. The chain’s sales grew in the third quarter.