Funding unlocks firms’ ambitions

Food and drink businesses across Scotland will benefit from a share of more than £10 million to improve supply-chain efficiency, increase production and run feasibility studies.

A total of 33 businesses will receive grants ranging from £16,000 to £1.4 million from the Food Processing, Marketing and Cooperation grant scheme.

Projects include capacity building for a dairy farm to meet the growing demand for its soft cheese, setting up of a new venison processing operation and installation of solar panels at a butcher premises to reduce carbon footprint and minimise electricity costs.

During a visit to one of the recipients of the fund, a family-run organic farm in Aberdeenshire, Rural Affairs Secretary Mairi Gougeon said: “The Scottish Government is supporting investment and expansion in our food and drink sector which offers incredible produce that is enjoyed at home and abroad.

“The FPMC scheme has enabled some really exciting projects in the past and I’m confident that this round of funding will play an important role in helping producers continue to deliver high-quality, innovative and nutritious products – securing and creating jobs and boosting the economy.

“I look forward to seeing how these grants enable businesses to move to the next level and I wish them the very best.”

Phil Swire of PHM & PP Swire, Balmakewan Farm Shop, said: “We are absolutely delighted that our FPMC Grant application was successful.

“The FPMC grant gives our small farming business a huge opportunity to diversify and move forward.

“It will allow us to process our organically home-grown produce on site, creating further local employment. It is my belief that we need to be offering nutrient-dense, ethically farmed, chemical-free and environmentally positive food directly to local consumers while also reducing food miles.”

Award-winners include:

Graham’s, The Family Dairy: £1,400,335.60. Trade Solutions, Blairgowrie: £620,070 for new fruit storage, packing and defrosting facility. Mackintosh of Glendaveny Limited: £908,425.60 to invest in plant and equipment to increase the production capacity of its current product which is rapeseed oil for consumer sale. Aberdeen & Northern Eggs t/a Farmlay Eggs £740,077.20 for construction of a new packing/fulfilment/storage/ dispatch building. Paul Webber, Aberdeenshire: £1,126,084.80 to expand its existing barley conditioning and laboratory testing capability. William Lean, Highland: £829,002.80 to construct barley testing and conditioning (drying) facility. J Rhind & Co, Moray: £165,570.00 for upgrading the packaging line with highly automated potato grading and packaging equipment.

Ian J McIntosh, Aberdeenshire: £74,892.47 new plant and, the upgrade of butcher premises. St Andrews Farmhouse Cheese Company: £72,386.40, Pittenweem to extend cheesemaking capability.

A M McLaren & Co, Fife: £387,398.57 investment in purpose-built grading and storage facilities which will increase capacity and efficiency.

Highland Eggs (Scotland) Limited, Moray: £65,185.20 building and purchase of pasteurisation equipment for milk processing and dairy product manufacture.

Blackhills Farm Partnership, Aberdeenshire: £271,733 for construction of new potato pack house and installation of new packing equipment. Vertegrow Ltd, Aberdeenshire: £32,157.20 to improve speed and efficiency of vertical processing at the applicant’s indoor fruit and vegetable growing facility. PHM & PP Swire, Aberdeenshire: £260,096.49 to replace an under-utilised building within the farm with an organically certified butchering and processing facility.

John Bryden (Potatoes) Limited, Perthshire: £82,679.08 to replace refrigeration units, install a multi-head weigher, conveyors and robotic palletising system. Fairlie Farming Company, Angus: £294,990.80 to create a new potato grading and washing facility. Wild Jura Ltd: £43,026.00 to set up a venison processing operation and establish a reliable local supply chain for deer culled on the island each year. W Brewster and Son, Stirling: £99,249.60 for construction of a milk processing facility. A Massie & Son, Moray: £65,036.60 for office/training facility. Aberdeen Grain Storage, Newmacher: £232,010.80 to develop and upgrade its cleaning, drying and dressing equipment to improve grain processing capabilities.

Nether Pratis Farming Company, Leven: £33,920.00 for milk processing facility. Angelic Free From, Inverness: £16,285 for marketing support for a new product range.