Food and drink funding

Regional projects and businesses across Scotland have been awarded funding to promote locally sourced food and drink.

A total of 21 projects will share £95,550 from the Connect Local Regional Food Fund.

Rural Affairs Minister Mairi Gougeon announced the funding on a visit to I.J. Mellis Cheesemonger in Edinburgh where she met producers from Fine Cheesemakers of Scotland.

The group has been awarded £3,450 for a range of projects, including ways to promote cheese as a pairing to whisky at distillery visitor centres and in restaurants.

Ms Gougeon said:

“I have been hugely impressed by the standard and range of food and drink initiatives across Scotland.

“Innovative projects like these not only help local economies grow, they also promote the importance of locally produced food and drink and the environmental benefits of sourcing produce close to home.

“This fund helps collaborative groups such as Fine Cheesemakers of Scotland create new opportunities for small businesses and producers and promotes Scotland’s world-leading food and drink sector.”

Fine Cheesemakers of Scotland chair Jane Stewart said:

“We are delighted to be a recipient of the Regional Food Fund Award. One of our objectives is to collaborate to raise awareness of the diverse range of artisan cheeses made across Scotland and this funding allows us to increase our marketing activity.

“We are proud to be producing award-winning cheeses and excited about targeting different sectors so more people have the opportunity to enjoy our wonderful cheeses, which are part of the diverse selection of food and drink Scotland has to offer the world.”

Background

The Connect Local Regional Food Fund (RFF) is a grant to support growth in Scotland's regional food and drink sector. Delivered by Connect Local and supported by the Scottish Government, applicants can apply for grants up to £5,000.

Since 2018, including this round, the fund has awarded £355,327 to 78 innovative projects.

 

	Applicant Name	Grant Awarded (£)
1	Ayrshire Food Hub	4900
2	Beer & Berries	4000
3	Bridge of Allan Food & Drink Town	5000
4	Building the profile of Scotland's Fine Cheesemakers	3450
5	Bute Kitchen	5000
6	Crail Food Trail	5000
7	Establishing a Highland Food & Drink Network	5000
8	Festival of the Sea	5000
9	Great Perthshire Picnic 2	5000
10	Huntly Hairst	1550
11	Lerwick fish market opening pop-up market	5000
12	Megginch Castle Neighbourfood Hub	5000
13	Moffat Eagle Festival	2000
14	Neighbourfood Blairgowrie and Rattray	5000
15	Outer Hebrides Food Tourism Strategy	5000
16	Platform Food & Makers Market	5000
17	ScotRumFest 2020	5000
18	South Lanarkshire Good Food and Drink Week	5000
19	Speyside Producers' Market	4650
20	Stirling Local Food Business Network	5000
21	Taste of Orkney Festival	5000
Total funding awarded = £95,550