Backing Scottish Food & Drink

Critical Support for Key Sector

Scotland’s food and drink industry is worth a record £19 billion to the economy; it is one of the country’s largest employers and is already well-recognised and established globally. Exports have increased enormously since the SNP first took office in 2007, and we have gone from having 90 to 149 whisky distilleries in Scotland – a sector that the First Minister has advocated heavily to protect from damaging US tariffs.

Our reputation for good food not only boosts exports but enhances our national brand and attracts visitors from across the world. The SNP want Scotland’s food and drink industry to continue growing and bringing benefits to Scotland including jobs, wealth and international renown.

The SNP Scottish Government has an ambitious ten-year collaborative strategy targeting strong growth against Brexit impacts. Sustaining Scotland, Supplying the World: a strategy for Scotland’s food and drink industry has been developed by the Scotland Food & Drink Partnership, which brings government and industry together to further the interests of the sector.

The strategy aims to support the sector to grow faster than similarly sized competitors, such as Ireland and Norway. The Scotland Food & Drink Partnership projects it could support a 25% increase in turnover for the sector by 2028 – from a projected £16 billion to £20 billion.

Actions include restoring promotional activity to pre-pandemic levels to reach new markets, and recruiting and retaining a highly skilled workforce to adapt and tackle skills shortages in the sector. Brexit has caused very significant problems for our farmers and food and drink industry, including the key soft fruit sector here in Angus, but the SNP has taken action to protect and enhance their success.

The Scottish Government is supporting businesses to export more through the activity of Scottish Development International across Europe, establishing and embedding Innovation and Investment Hubs. It has also spoken up against unfair policies pursued by successive Westminster governments which undervalue and hurt Scotland’s important fishing communities.

Since 2021, the Scottish Government has also provided over £500,000 to the Regional Food Fund, which has supported 104 collaborative projects, varying from food and drink tourism trails, festivals, a variety of showcase events and promotional regional marketing campaigns. Locally, this has included funding for Appetite for Angus to rescue and revitalise farmers’ markets like in Carnoustie.

A re-elected SNP government can be trusted to continue its strong track record of support for our food and drink sector.