Tag: Regional Food Fund

Regional Food Fund: £100,000 available to promote local produce

Scottish food businesses, producers and groups are encouraged to apply for grants of up to £5,000 to promote and champion produce from their local area.

Scotland Food & Drink Partnership’s Regional Food Fund, launches its fifth round with £100,000 available from the Scottish Government to support regional food activity across Scotland.

Since 2018, the Scottish Government has provided over £770,000 to the fund, which has supported 167 collaborative projects, varying from food and drink tourism trails, festivals, new equipment and regional marketing campaigns.

Agriculture Minister Jim Fairlie said: “Food and drink is one of our largest industry sectors, and Scotland’s largest employer with an industry value of over £15 billion. The engagement of regional markets is vital in achieving our industry strategy and growth ambitions for the next ten years.

“Scotland has a highly successful and influential food and drink sector and this fund allows us to demonstrate that through the development of creative food and drink projects.

“These grants allow opportunities to increase the promotion of local produce, the chance for businesses to engage and educate local communities about what is available and showcase some of our most exciting food and drink ventures.”

Euan Armstrong, at Visit Moray Speyside, which was supported by the fund said: “The Regional Food Fund has contributed to Taste Of Moray Speyside’s overall brand presence by assisting in the development of various events and promotional activities.

“The feedback from businesses participating in Cocktail Week and Farm To Fork Week has been overwhelmingly positive.”

Lesley Wilkinson of Forth Valley Food and Drink, another recipient, said: “The Regional Food Fund has been instrumental in bringing our vision to life.

“It enabled us to produce a series of compelling short documentary films that celebrate the rich and diverse food and drink scene of the Forth Valley.”

Head of Regional Food at Scotland Food & Drink, Fiona Richmond said: “The Regional Food Fund is now entering its fifth round, a real testament to the importance of this programme.

“In the past, the fund has helped bring to life food and drink festivals, promotion campaigns for Scottish produce, market weekends, cook schools and many more collaborative opportunities showing the quality of produce and the journey from field to fork.

“The Fund encourages collaboration within regions and the supply chain, shining a spotlight on unique food and drink stories and experiences for us all to enjoy. The desire for local produce is strong, and Scotland Food & Drink are proud to continue our support to regional food and drink initiatives.”

Eligible businesses and groups are encouraged to apply for a grant and to work collaboratively with others to continue to engage communities and achieve regional food and drink success.

The closing date for applications is 5pm on 30 August 2024. 

Scottish Government: Supporting local food and drink

Recipients of the Regional Food Fund announced

A total of 24 projects from across the country have been awarded funding of £110,000 to promote and showcase quality regional produce.

The latest round of the Regional Food Fund (RFF) was launched in April this year to support the development of local food and drink projects with grants of up to £5,000.

Managed by industry organisation Scotland Food & Drink, the fund is designed to contribute to the sector’s recovery from the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic and raise the profile of local and regional produce.

Initiatives supported by this fund range from food and drink festivals and events to food tourism collaborations, online and physical markets to e-commerce such as Stranraer Oyster Festival, Clyde Island Gin Passport and Bowhouse Link.

Several of the country’s regional food groups will be delivering projects, such as farm vending by Bute Kitchen; promotional pop-ups by Appetite for Angus; a buy local campaign from Eat and Drink Dundee and food heritage project by Lanarkshire Larder.

Two Edinburgh and Lothian initiatives receive funding support:

Rosewell Farmers’ Market

Establishment of regular Farmers’ Market at the Steading, Rosewell, featuring high quality, locally grown or sourced produce.

Small-scale regional, collaboration between Rosewell Development Trust and local food producers
Grant awarded: £4,589

Scottish Development

Evolution of the successful sales and marketing platform for Edinburgh’s craft breweries, Beers of Edinburgh, which opens new market opportunities for the sector.

Funding will enable further online and retail sales as well as transferring the format to wider Scottish regions to allow other Scottish breweries to benefit.
Grant awarded: £5,000

Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and Islands Mairi Gougeon said: “This is the third round of funding provided under the Regional Food Fund and I am pleased to see the involvement of such a diverse range of projects. 

“These collaborative projects will help showcase the incredible range of food and drink produced in Scotland delivering more unique and memorable eating and drinking experiences and provide further impetus to the sale of local produce, develop food tourism opportunities and contribute to recovery.

“Our focus remains on promoting local produce including high welfare and production standards, as well as taking into account environmental issues, something consumers are increasingly interested in.”

Fiona Richmond, Head of Regional Food at Scotland Food & Drink, said: “It is fantastic to support a further 24 collaborative food and drink projects with this latest round of funding from the Regional Food Fund.

“From the quality of applications, we can see that there is a great deal of energy for, and commitment to, developing local food and drink initiatives, all of which play a vital role in the growth of the food, drink and tourism sectors countrywide.

“Our congratulations to all the recipients and we look forward to seeing the projects develop over the coming months to create a lasting impact on communities across Scotland.”

List of projects that were awarded grants as part of the 2022 Regional Food Fund

Funding for local food initiatives

Projects that celebrate locally sourced and produced food and drink are being encouraged to apply for funding.

The Regional Food Fund aims to support the food and drink sector’s recovery from the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic with £110,000 of Scottish Government funding.

The fund, managed by Scotland Food & Drink, provides grants of up to £5,000 to applicants across the country.

Last year the fund was allocated across 42 projects, which varied from helping regional food group producers in Argyll & Bute grow their sales, to supporting the expansion of the Bowhouse market in Fife to allow more local producers to showcase their food and drink offerings.

Mairi Gougeon, Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and Islands said: “This government is committed to supporting and promoting Scotland’s local produce, which is some of the finest in the world.

“I would encourage eligible groups and businesses to apply for this year’s Regional Food Fund.

“Since its launch in 2018, the Regional Food Fund has provided over £550,000 to 121 projects, and this additional funding will support many more projects and initiatives.”

Fiona Richmond, Head of Regional Food at Scotland Food & Drink, said: “The Regional Food Fund has already played an important role in promoting food and drink in local communities and delivering benefits to Scotland’s local food and drink sector over the long-term.

“It’s great to see the fund reopen and continuing to promote and encourage great local food initiatives by supporting regional activities, networks and collaborative initiatives across the country.”

Regional Food Fund information and application

Who can apply?

  • individual businesses in the food and drink sector, including primary producers, on behalf of a collaborative group or project
  • regional and community groups (both rural and urban)
  • individuals on behalf of a collaborative group or project

The deadline for applications is 5pm, 9 May 2022.