Introduction, aims and objectives

Date published: 4 August, 2021

You must not start work on your project before receiving a grant offer letter confirming your application has been successful.

Preliminary costs, such as architects, planning and building warrants, may be incurred before you receive your grant offer, but will not be eligible for grant support if incurred before the date our grant offer has been issued.

These guidance notes are intended to provide an overview of the application process and the areas of expenditure which can be supported. However, they do not cover every situation or provide exhaustive commentary.

For further information please contact us:

FoodProcessingGrant_Enquiries@gov.scot
Telephone: Telephone: 0300 244 9146

The Food Processing, Marketing and Co-operation Grant Scheme (FPMC) aims to support Scotland’s journey towards becoming a Good Food Nation.

This will be achieved through providing assistance to the food and drink sector in line with Scottish Government policy priorities.

Applicants should be aware that FPMC now operates as a single year scheme, and as such all projects must be completed, with final claims submitted by the end of the financial year in which the grant was awarded.

Scottish Ministers remain committed to the concept and reality of achieving our vision of Scotland as a Good Food Nation where:

  • it is the norm for Scots to take a keen interest in their food, knowing what constitutes good food, valuing it and seeking it out whenever they can
  • people who serve and sell food – from schools to hospitals, retailers, cafes and restaurants – are committed to serving and selling good food
  • everyone in Scotland has ready access to the healthy, nutritious food they need
  • dietary-related diseases are in decline, as is the environmental impact of our food consumption
  • Scottish producers ensure that what they produce is increasingly healthy and environmentally sound
We are working hard to make a real and positive difference to the lives of the people of Scotland by:

  • helping to improve their access to, and understanding of, the benefits of healthy local foods
  • ensuring sustainability of our wonderful food industry
  • ensuring food companies are a thriving feature of the economy and places where people want to work
  • looking to grow Scotland’s reputation as a Good Food Nation from which other countries can learn

National Food and Drink Policy

Applications to this scheme should recognise the Government’s National Performance Framework, the Programme for Government and Scotland’s Economic Strategy.

National Performance Framework and Programme for Government

FPMC is funded through the Scottish Rural Development Programme (SRDP), this scheme helps Scottish food and drink processors and manufacturers to:

  • add value to Scotland’s food and drink production
  • innovate and develop new products and packaging
  • increase vertical and horizontal co-operation, including working with retailers and the hospitality and food service sector
  • shorten and increase sustainability of supply chains
  • identify, inform and better serve current/access new markets

There is a continued need to consider novel practices and processes and to develop new products and technologies throughout the food and drink supply chain.

This will help address the challenges of how to increase food productivity and improve diet by aligning consumption closer to the Revised Dietary Goals for Scotland

This scheme will provide support for innovation in the food and drink sector where this is aligned with the aspirations of the Good Food Nation. This could include projects that aim to:

  • improve efficiency of production
  • maximise nutritional quality (further information below under How to complete your application) of manufactured standard food and drink products
  • trial new uses for by-products

Funding could also provide support for business preparedness in identifying and preparing for market or export.

Rising resource risks and the growing recognition of the economic value being lost during food and drink production have raised the need to promote the circular economy and share facilities and resources.

This scheme will provide support for increased co-operation amongst operators, which could improve the resilience of the food and drink sector. It will also support the promotion of shortened supply chains, as a means to improve the economic performance, flexibility and the environmental sustainability, of the food and drink sector.

There is an increasing interest in local food and its important contribution to the economy.

Its success lies in ensuring collaboration throughout the supply chain – from seed to plate – and outwith the supply chain, between primary producers and research institutions or between manufacturers and higher education institutes.

This could include ensuring clear labelling to indicate the provenance of produce, or ensuring appropriate skilled resource is available.

It could also include the development and promotion of food and drink tourism and local markets, as a vital contribution to local economic growth.

  • support capital costs of businesses involved in the processing of primary agricultural produce to develop new, and improve existing, processing facilities
  • support non-capital costs towards the wider development of new food and drink businesses (for example consultancy costs)
  • support co-operation activity between food and drink producers/manufacturers and third parties (e.g. retailers, research community, hospitality and food service sector)
  • support marketing at National/International trade shows/fairs
  • support innovation – including clusters, process and organisation
  • support training – However this does not include training to comply with national mandatory standards on training

If you apply for this scheme, we will ask you for a variety of details to do with you and your business. You can find out more about how we will store and use this information by reading our privacy policy.

Privacy policy

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Section Change
Available support heading changed name to - FPMC Funding can Further details added
support non-capital costs towards the wider development of new food and drink businesses (for example feasibility studies and consultancy costs)
support co-operation activity between food and drink producers/manufacturers and third parties (e.g. retailers, research community, hospitality and food service sector)
support marketing (including Fairs and Shows)
support innovation – including clusters, process and organisation
support training