CASE STUDY
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.
Highlands and Islands Food & Drink Awards 2024
The Highlands & Islands Food & Drink Awards (HIFDA) are back for 2024. Now in its 19th year, the Awards encourage food and drink businesses to be innovative, forward thinking and collaborative and celebrate their excellence and achievement.
The awards are currently open for entry and there are sponsorship opportunities available.
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.
Scotland's Food and Drink sector
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
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.
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.
Working with food and drink businesses across our region
Find support
Browse our support services and find out how we could support you.
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 grow by providing free business support, technical advice and events.
Scottish Manufacturing Advisory Service
SMAS can help you lower the cost of doing business – by reducing capital, energy, labour and raw material costs.
Browse all support services
We support businesses, communities and social enterprises through a range of support services, including advice, funding, events and property. Find out how we can help you.