Rural Payments and Services

Scotland’s food and drink growth sector generated £13.9 billion in turnover in 2016, a rise of 3.9% from the previous year, and the greatest annual growth since 2011.

That’s part of a wider turnover growth estimated to be up 36% from 2007.

Rural Economy Fergus Ewing said:

“This is more good news for Scotland’s food and drink sector, which continues to go from strength to strength. We’re very fortunate in Scotland to have a natural larder which is renowned the world over.

"We can rely on our hard working farmers to harvest that larder, and a vibrant business community working collaboratively to sell our remarkable products, and enhance our national brands.

“As the statistics show, the net result has been a steady increase in sector growth over the past ten years, helped by a record £6 billion in exports last year.

"The signs are positive that we are moving in the right direction to achieve our ambition of doubling the value of Scotland’s food and drink to £30 billion by 2030.

“We are working hard alongside the sector to help it realise its ambitions, but the continuing uncertainty being caused by Brexit threatens to destabilise our most important export market, and undermine vital access to people who want to come and work here in our food and drink sector.”