New food & drink strategy published

An industry-led strategy which aims for a 25% increase in turnover for Scotland’s food and drink sector by 2028 has been published.

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.

First Minister Humza Yousaf launched the strategy and announced £5 million Scottish Government funding during the 2023 Royal Highland Show. Industry will contribute a further £1 million, bringing total funding for year one of the strategy to £6 million.

The launch takes place seven years to the day since the UK voted to leave the EU, which has caused significant setbacks for the Scottish food and drink sector. Scottish Government analysis, published today, indicates Brexit is the main cause of difficulties in trading overseas for 44% of businesses in Scotland, and responsible for a third of food price inflation, currently at a 45-year high.

Previous figures from Scotland Food & Drink Partnership have also shown that in January 2022 food manufacturing industries faced a shortfall of at least 10,000 workers, with impacts particularly notable on soft fruit, horticulture and seasonal vegetable production, making attracting new talent to the sector a priority for the strategy.

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