Funding for food industry

A major meat processor in Perth has been awarded £4 million from the Food Processing, Marketing and Co-operation (FPMC) grant scheme.

The funding – part of an overall investment of nearly £18 million - will contribute to a significant long-term investment into the company’s infrastructure, which includes the construction and equipping of several new factory buildings, transforming the site into a world-class facility, and creating 80 new jobs.

Visiting the site in Perth, Rural Economy Secretary Fergus Ewing said:

“The Scottish Government is doing everything we can to support Scotland’s successful food and drink industry, which has been going from strength-to-strength in recent years. Our long-term ambition is to help double that industry’s value to £30 billion in the next 12 years

“Today’s investment in ABP Perth is part of a longer-term investment programme, which will help to fund major infrastructure projects - creating jobs and driving on the industry in Scotland. Scotland’s beef producers will benefit from the availability of processing facilities of the highest quality, and the project itself will be a boon to the local economy for many years to come.”

Commenting on the announcement, Tom Kirwan, Managing Director of ABP’s UK Division, said:

“We look forward to beginning work and transforming Perth into one of the most modern facilities of its kind in the UK. The improvements will benefit everyone from our farmer suppliers through to our colleagues and the local economy. It will create 80 additional jobs on site and provide significant employment during the construction phase.”

Background

The Food Processing, Marketing and Co-operation grant scheme is part of the Scottish Rural Development Programme (2014-20) – a joint programme of support involving Scottish Government and European Union funds. To date the FPMC scheme has supported 99 Scottish food and drink businesses with awards totalling £45 million - leveraging over £150 million private investment. The scheme has helped create around 1000 jobs with a further 5,500 safeguarded.