Multi-million pound boost for Aberdeenshire and Moray food businesses
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Food and drink businesses across Aberdeenshire and Moray will benefit from a share of more than £10 million to improve supply-chain efficiency, increase production and run feasibility studies.
A total of 33 businesses in Scotland both large and small, will receive grants ranging from £16,000 to £1.4 million from the Food Processing, Marketing and Cooperation (FPMC) grant scheme.
Projects include capacity building for a dairy farm to meet the growing demand for its soft cheese, setting up of a new venison processing operation and installation of solar panels at a butcher premises to reduce carbon footprint and minimise electricity costs.
During a visit to one of the recipients of the fund, Balmakewan Farm Shop near Laurencekirk, a family run organic farm Rural Affairs Secretary Mairi Gougeon said: “The Scottish Government is supporting investment and expansion in our food and drink sector which offers incredible produce that is enjoyed at home and abroad.
“The FPMC scheme has enabled some really exciting projects in the past and I’m confident that this round of funding will play an important role in helping producers continue to deliver high-quality, innovative and nutritious products – securing and creating jobs and boosting the economy.
“I look forward to seeing how these grants enable businesses to move to the next level and I wish them the very best.”
Phil Swire of Balmakewan Farm Shop said: “We are absolutely delighted that our FPMC Grant application was successful.
"The FPMC grant gives our small farming business a huge opportunity to diversify and move forward.
“It will allow us to process our Organically home grown produce on site, creating further local employment.
"It is my belief that we need to be offering nutrient dense, ethically farmed, chemical free and environmentally positive food directly to local consumers whilst also reducing food miles.
"This project will allow our small family run farm to start offering exactly this to our local community.”
The most recent awards include for Aberdeenshire -
Mackintosh of Glendaveny Limited: £908,425. The business is a manufacturer or rapeseed oil based in Aberdeenshire, and plans to invest in plant and equipment to increase the production capacity of its’ current product which is rapeseed oil for consumer sale, and also invest in a new processing facility.
Aberdeen & Northern Eggs via Farmlay Eggs £740,077. The project involves the construction of a new packing/fulfilment/storage/dispatch building, which will enhance overall efficiency and free up space in the main packing building to allow for additional throughput and facilitate increased production.
Paul Webber: £1,126,084. The company is a small grain processor based in Aberdeenshire. It is seeking funding for the expansion of its existing barley conditioning and laboratory testing
capability. The company wants to increase its capabilities and capacity via the creation of an energy efficient and fully insulated conditioning (drying) facility alongside the expansion of the existing laboratory and weighbridge system and input/output holding facility at Tyrie Mains Farm.
Ian J McIntosh: £74,892. The project involves the purchase and installation of new plant and, the upgrade and development of a three-room flat adjoining the applicant’s butcher premises to
provide space for the preparation and par-cooking/roasting of vegetables, and installation of solar panels.
Aberdeen Grain Storage £232,010. Aberdeen Grain Storage Ltd, a grain storage and marketing co-operative in Newmachar is seeking to develop and upgrade its cleaning, drying and dressing equipment to improve grain processing capabilities.
Blackhills Farm Partnership £271,733. The applicant is a potato grower, and the project involves the construction of a new pack house and installation of new packing equipment including a technically advanced pack line and multi-head weigher.
Vertegrow Ltd £32,157. The project involves the purchase and installation of plant and equipment designed to improve the speed and efficiency of vertical processing at the applicant’s indoor
fruit and vegetable growing facility near Newburgh.
P HM & PP Swire (Balmakewan Farm Shop) £260,096. The business, company, a small organic family farm in south Aberdeenshire, is seeking to replace an underutilised building within the farm with an organically certified butchering and processing facility, to add value to organic Scottish venison.
In Moray recipients include -
A Massie & Son £65,036. The applicant is a potato farming business based in Forres, It is seeking grant support for a professional office/training facility that will support its overall strategy to
meet the exacting requirements of final retail packers.
Highland Eggs (Scotland) Limited £65,185. The applicant is an egg and dairy producer. The project involves the construction of a building and purchase of pasteurisation equipment for milk processing and dairy product manufacture
J Rhind & Co £165,570. The project comes from a potato grower, and involves upgrading the packaging line with highly automated grading and packaging equipment. This includes a new
grading line to ensure consistent size and removal of damaged product.
