Meat firms get cash injection

- Published: 09 December, 2009

Scottish meat businesses are celebrating after getting big cash hand-outs from the Scottish government.

Big winners include Highland Game which will receive £116,238 to build an extension and buy new equipment including label printers while Malcolm Allan will get a £103,944 grant.

The £1.1m, awarded under the Food Processing, Marketing and Co-operation (FPMC) scheme to 16 food businesses, will create 77 jobs and safeguard 507, with the aim of enhancing Scotland’s reputation as a ‘land of food and drink’.

Malcolm Allan, boss of Malcolm Allan, said the cash would help increase turnover, create jobs, and allow the company to be more efficient, both from a production and energy perspective.

“Demand for our products has never been greater and this award will let us take advantage of that,” said Allan.“The importance of financial support to the sector cannot be over- emphasised.”

Other winners in the meat industry include Stuart Grant Quality Meats (£21,349), Caledonian Marts (Stirling) (£10,406), and Wishaw Abattoir (£6,318).

Food Secretary Richard Lochhead said sales of Scottish brands were up 21% across Scotland, England and Wales in just two years, while Scottish food and drink exports had also increased.

“These latest grants represent a small but significant slice of the funding that will allow many Scottish companies to develop and help ensure locally sourced produce is available to everyone around the country,” he said.

The latest round of funding takes the total paid under the FPMC scheme to £20m, with almost 4,000 jobs created or safeguarded.