Scotland to boost food and drink industry

Published: 23 July, 2008

Scotland food and drink industry joins forces to boost the country's food and drink industry towards a value target of 10billion by 2017.

Scotland Food & Drink includes representatives from the Scottish Executive to the Scottish Food and Drink Federation, but work is now underway to recruit other food and drink-related organisations and businesses.

David Kilshaw, who has chaired the working group that set-up the new organisation, said: "For the first time ever there's a common agenda that's come from industry itself, and we believe this new approach is going to make our industry stronger, more profitable and sustainable in years to come.

"In the face of global competition it is clear we must harness our collective resources and pull together the skills and energy of the entire supply chain - our farmers and fishermen, processors and distillers, our researchers and educators and our public sector agencies - to take the industry forward."

Lochhead said: "Scotland has some of the best natural produce and the most committed food and drink producers in the world; our food and drink is already one of the first things that people think of when they think of Scotland.

"By working together to grow, process and promote the very best of Scotland's food and drink, we can build on our industry's record successes and continue to spread the message internationally that Scottish products are world-class."

Scotland Food & Drink will receive an initial budget of 500,000 from the Executive. The chairman and the chief executive are to be named shortly.

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