Highlands and Islands Enterprise
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Growth sectors

Food and drink

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Food and drink in our region

Food and drink businesses from the region produce a wide range of high-quality products, which have a strong competitive advantage associated to place, people and provenance.

Today the food and drink industry in Scotland is worth £16bn and is the third largest employer in Scotland, employing 129,000 people across agriculture, fishing and aquaculture, and manufacturing.

In June 2023 a new ten year strategy, ‘Sustaining Scotland. Supplying the World.’ was launched by the Scotland Food and Drink Partnership with the ambition of making Scotland the best place in the world to own, operate, and work for a food and drink business.

Scotland Food and Drink Partnership

Scotland Food and Drink is the industry leadership organisation nurture, support and champion the people and products of Scotland’s food and drink industry to help deliver continued and growing success and enhance Scotland’s global reputation. 

Scotland Food and Drink is a membership organisation with over 450 members and they lead the Scotland Food & Drink Partnership.

The Knowledge Bank

The Knowledge Bank’s insight service gives you access to a unique blend of customised market research, data analysis and consumer insights. It's a free resource for Scotland’s Food and Drink sector.

Find out more and register for a free account 

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Food and drink TechHUB - business support

Food and Drink TechHUB supports food and drink producers and supply chain businesses in the Highland Council area to increase their productivity and reduce carbon emissions through access to expert advice, funding, events and networking opportunities. 

The programme enables businesses to access tailored support and funding to become more productive, competitive and greener. 

Find out more

Kyle 1920

Growing in controlled environments

Controlled environment agriculture, CEA for short, is an umbrella term which encompasses a range of technologies and growing environments.

Find out more about CEA and find some useful resources to help you develop. 

 

 

Did you know..

Scotland's Food and Drink sector has

Published on 28/06/2023

129,000

employed in the sector

8.1

value of Scottish Food and Drink exports

£16

in industry turnover (2022)

20

sector growth over last 10 years

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Net Zero commitment

The Scotland Food & Drink Partnership has developed the food and drink industry’s Net Zero Commitment to unite industry efforts and steer its journey to a net zero future.

The Net Zero Commitment consists of five long-term commitments, underpinned by a programme of targeted interventions, to help Scotland’s food and drink sector meet net zero targets by addressing the challenges and opportunities that a just transition to a net zero sector offers producers, manufacturers and those involved throughout the food and drink supply chain.

By working together we will be able to tackle our most pressing shared challenges, deliver the Scottish Government’s 2045 net zero target, and help businesses stay on the front foot commercially.

You can find out more about the commitment and download a copy on Scotland Food & Drink's website. 

Visit Scotland Food & Drink

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Supporting food and drink businesses to innovate and grow

Innovation is important to Scotland’s economy. Innovation in farming, fishing, food and drink is vital to empower Scotland’s food and drink businesses to respond to today’s consumer and market needs and to adapt to future challenges and opportunities.

Research shows that when a company innovates, they are twice as likely to grow and three times more likely to export successfully. Many companies are already making good use of the world-class research base on their doorstep.

Find out more here

Who we work with

Have a look at some of our case studies to find out more about who we work with and how we support them.

Case Study

Benbecula Distillery

The dream of an islander to create a single malt whisky in the Outer Hebrides came to fruition in 2024 with the first spirit starting to flow at Benbecula Distillery. 

Benbecula Distillery

Case Study

Whisk Café

Nyomi Dixon of Whisk Café describes her invaluable experience of participating in the IMPACT30 programme.

Whisk Café

Case Study

Gledfield Distillery

How IMPACT30 helped launch Glenfield Distillery

Gledfield Distillery

Case Study

Stockan's Oatcakes Ltd

Fair Work programme offers the right ingredients for bakery

Stockan's Oatcakes Ltd

Case Study

VShake

Our IMPACT30 programme is here to help young entrepreneurs like 19 year old Jack Barrie. Find out more about VShake.

VShake

Case Study

Argyll Coffee Roasters

Argyll Coffee Roasters awarded £10,751 through HIE’s Young Business Capital Fund

Argyll Coffee Roasters

Eve MacFarlane outside Argyll coffee roasters shop
Case Study

Orkney food and drink learning journey

Regional food groups from across the Highlands and Islands converged in Orkney in April 2022 to experience an immersive food and drink learning journey.

Orkney food and drink learning journey

Case Study

Maclean's Highland Bakery

Growing a greener business

Maclean's Highland Bakery

Case Study

Zepice - Fusion Spice Blends

How joining the Highland Food & Drink Innovation Network has opened doors for Zepice

Zepice - Fusion Spice Blends

Business support

Have a look at our support programmes to find out how we could help you grow your business.

HIE's Innovation Service

HIE's innovation service can provide you with expert advice and funding to help you get your ideas off the ground.

Food and Drink TechHUB

Helping food and drink producers and supply chain businesses in the Highland Council area with access to expert advice, funding, events and networking opportunities.

HIE Green Grant Fund

The HIE Green Grant Fund provides up to £250,000 to businesses and social enterprises to support their journey to net zero.

Browse all support services

We support businesses, communities and social enterprises through a range of services, including advice, funding, events and property. Find out how we can help you.

Strategic documents

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