Taste of Arran joins supplier development programme
Alastair Dobson and the Taste of Arran team had further reason to celebrate this week when it was named one of the food and drink producers, from across Scotland, which have won places in Sodexo’s new supplier development programme.
Supported by the Scotland Food and Drink Recovery Plan, and with funding from the Scottish Government, the programme will initially welcome 15 producers to help them enter food service markets.
Brewers, bakers and ice-cream makers are among the 15 successful applicants to the programme.
Delivered with Levercliff Associates and beginning later in March, the programme will support the businesses to build capacity, identify opportunities and effectively promote their products to food service and wholesale markets.
The businesses will also have one-to-one mentoring throughout the programme and have meetings with Sodexo buyers this summer.
Sodexo, one of the country’s leading food service providers, is expanding its collaboration with local food and drink businesses to source more Scottish products.
In the UK and Ireland, Sodexo partners with clients in many sectors across business and industry; schools and universities; sports and leisure, including major sporting events; energy and resources; government; healthcare; justice and defence. Stephanie Pritchard, head of UK supplier development at Scotland Food and Drink, said: ‘The past two years have been incredibly difficult for Scotland’s food and drink businesses, but the uptake for the Sodexo supplier development programme demonstrates that companies continue to innovate and strive for growth.
‘Food service and wholesale markets present a huge opportunity for Scottish producers to expand.
‘Increasingly customers – both business and consumers – are looking for quality, locally-sourced products which Scotland has in abundance.’
Kim Ryan, customer support manager at Taste of Arran, said: ‘We’re very proud to have secured our place in the Sodexo supplier development programme.
‘Food service is a huge potential market for us, so the opportunity is very exciting for the business. We’re looking forward to collaborating with Sodexo and Scotland Food and Drink as we aim to grow our business and diversify our customer base.’