Salmon

Food and Drink

Our region is renowned as Scotland's outstanding natural larder.

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 

HIE/SDI Food & Drink Showcase

Highlands and Islands Food & Drink Awards 2024

The Highlands and Islands Food & Drink Awards (HIFDA) take place on Friday 1 November in the Kingsmills Hotel, Inverness. 

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.  

See the shortlist and book tickets here.

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. 

 

 

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

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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

00129481

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

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 in the Highland Council area with access to expert advice, funding, events and networking opportunities.

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.

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