An award-winning food courier service in Skye & Lochalsh has taken delivery of a new, custom-built delivery van to cater for the rising demand for their unique distribution service.

The Food Link van serves businesses and communities throughout the area by improving the availability of local produce, and over the last few years, the van has become a familiar sight on the roads around Skye and Lochalsh.

Skye and Lochalsh Food Link Group has been awarded £22,100 over two years from Skye and Lochalsh Enterprise (SALE).  The funding will allow the purchase, conversion and operation of a larger van.  Over the last few years the service has been dependant on volunteers time, but the larger vehicle will help to meet increasing demand for local produce and allow the service to continue.

The Food Link Group also received £5,400 from the EU-funded HIE Efficiency programme, which aims to encourage businesses to upgrade their processes in order to improve efficiency.

Now, a total of 15 producers use the van deliver anything from fresh shellfish, salad leaves and cheese to mushrooms, yoghurt and vegetables twice a week to almost 30 retailers and caterers throughout Skye and Lochalsh.  In the past four years the Food Link van has increased the volume of fresh local produce remaining in Skye and Lochalsh from £8,600 to £60,000.

Kornelius Hagmann, a member of the distribution group, said: "The Food Link service has been a huge success and has exceeded all our expectations.  It has just kept on growing in popularity so it's no wonder we had to find a bigger van.  With so many food producers wanting to use us, space in the van was at a premium, so it is a relief to know that we are now able to offer an enhanced service to meet our clients' expectations."

SALE development manager Carole Inglis said:  "The Food Link van is of great benefit to both producers and customers, as it provides a reliable supply of fresh food to local food retailers and restaurants, as well as creating a demand for the food from within the local community. 

"The service received national recognition when it won the UK Organic Food Award for 'Best New Local Food Initiative'. We are delighted to continue to help the group as the service expands."