Food and drink

Grant funding is available for business groups and local bodies, working in partnership with their local authority, to develop proposals for Business Improvement Districts across Scotland.

A Business Improvement District (BID) is about businesses working together and investing collectively in local improvements, in addition to those delivered by the statutory authorities. These improvements will be of benefit to the businesses involved and also contribute to the wider aspirations of the local residential community and growing the local economy.

An innovative tea growing project in Angus, Perth & Kinross and Fife has received a funding boost from the LEADER programmes in these areas.

The award of £49,550 has been made to Artisan Tea Gardens Ltd by the LEADER Local Action Groups in Angus, Fife and Perth & Kinross.

Artisan Tea Gardens Ltd is a collaborative partnership of nine tea growers, two in Angus, five in Perth & Kinross and two in Fife, who aim to grow 100 percent Scottish tea for lovers of traditionally-made produce.

More than 140 people attended the Stirling Food Summit last week, setting out a vision of Stirling as Scotland’s first Good Food Nation city.

The two-day event took place at the Forth Valley College campus in the city, with a focus on strategy on Friday 19 May and a community day on the Saturday 20 May.

Stirling Council Director of Localities and Infrastructure, Alastair Brown opened the event.

Food and drink businesses across Scotland are celebrating after their success at the food and drink 'Oscars'.

Twenty-five winners were announced at the Scotland Food & Drink Excellence Awards 2017. Alastair Dobson from Taste of Arran won the Outstanding Contribution award, Business of the Year went to Bruce Farms and the Product of the Year prize went to Whisky Nibs from Chocolate Tree.

Apply now for Nourish Scotland's Making a Living from Local Food programme 2017.

Are you passionate about tasty, nutritious, locally and sustainably produced food? Are you in the process of setting up a local food enterprise or have just started one?

The current funding round of the Food for Thought Education Fund closes for applications at the end of May.