£6 million awarded to 18 local food processors

Eighteen projects have been awarded a share of more than £6 million, enabling companies to invest in infrastructure, upgrade or replace facilities, and purchase new equipment, as well safeguarding 345 jobs, and creating 156 new ones across Scotland.

The funding includes an award of £808,317 to West Beverages Ltd in Glasgow to create a new production and packaging facility in Scotland, creating 33 full time jobs.

Quality Pork Processors in Brechin were also amongst the recipients, receiving £558,965.40, to increase infrastructure and purchase equipment, helping to safeguard 72 jobs and create a further three jobs in the process.  

Welcoming the news, Rural Economy Secretary Fergus Ewing said:

“Food and Drink continues to be one of Scotland’s success stories of recent years, with a turnover of more than £13.9 billion last year – and directly employing more than 110,000 people across the country.

“And the Scottish Government is doing everything we can to support the sector’s long-term ambition to double in value to £30 billion in the next 12 years.

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“The FPMC grant scheme is an important part of that ambition, using joint Scottish Government and European Union funding to give local businesses a helping hand, which will ensure the long-term viability of our primary producers, and maximise export markets for our fantastic Scottish produce.”

Petra Wetzel, Managing Director of WEST Beverages Ltd, said:

“We are thrilled to have been awarded an FPMG grant. This will allow us to build a state of the art drinks production and packaging facility in Scotland enabling not only WEST to achieve its ambitious growth plans for the next 10 years but also to support other thriving drinks businesses across Scotland by helping them with their ongoing kegging, bottling and canning requirements.” 

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