SCOTGOV has awarded £6 million to be shared between 18 local food processors to invest in infrastructure, upgrade or replace facilities, and purchase new equipment, as well safeguarding 345 jobs, and creating 156 new ones across Scotland.

Quality Pork Processors in Brechin were 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.

The funding also included 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.

West managing director Petra Wetzl 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,” she enthused.

Cabinet Secretary for the rural economy, Fergus Ewing welcomed the news: “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.

“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,” he said. “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."