Scottish food and drink producers get £1m boost for 2014 Commonwealth Games
Scottish food and drink producers have receive a £1m boost to ensure they have the capacity to exploit the opportunities on offer when the country hosts the Commonwealth Games in 2014.
The action plan, created by a partnership between the Scottish Government, Scotland's enterprise agencies, Event Scotland and Scotland Food and Drink, aims to secure economic value for Scotland's food and drink sector.
Rural Affairs Secretary Richard Lochhead said that companies had to be prepared in advance to reap the rewards on offer. "Over the next nine months, the Glasgow 2014 Organising Committee, responsible for delivering the games, is expected to procure catering services contracts worth up to £8m," Lochhead said.
"With the Commonwealth Games, Ryder Cup and the Year of Homecoming all taking place in Scotland in that year, there will be unprecedented opportunities to showcase the produce Scotland has to offer," he added.
In 2011 turnover in Scotland's food and drink sector grew by 6% and exports hit £5.4b.
"We want to set a new benchmark for local food and drink provision at major events and our showcasing at the Olympics last month was an insight into what we can achieve," said James Withers, chief executive at Scotland Food and Drink.
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By Matilde Casaglia
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