2 Sisters Food Group has been awarded a £1 million grant to upgrade its facilities at its Coupar Angus processing plant.
The grant was one of 30 given to food and drink businesses across Scotland, which together have been given £5 million to invest in infrastructure, purchase new equipment and upgrade or replace facilities.
The Food Processing, Marketing and Cooperation (FPMC) grants are given to support the food supply chain, and the Scottish government said they would help safeguard 1,386 jobs and creating 97 new ones.
The 2 Sisters grant will be used to improve equipment and infrastructure, including a spiral freezer and plant room, equipment and infrastructure to support the production of value-added meal ingredients, plus external improvements to the site and roof upgrades to cover all production areas at Coupar Angus. The total cost of the project is £5,159,700, with the grant covering £1 million.
Announcing the funding, Rural Economy Secretary Fergus Ewing said: “The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has underlined the importance of a strong and effective food supply chain and an increased consumer desire for locally produced food. This support will enable established producers and businesses across Scotland look to the future and capitalise on emerging marketing opportunities, as well as offer support to start-up businesses.
“This scheme uses joint Scottish Government and European Union funding to give local businesses a helping hand, helping to ensure the long-term viability of our primary producers. Investing in local producers is an important step to help sustain and create employment opportunities within our rural communities.”
