Question reference: S5W-00281
- Asked by: Gillian Martin, MSP for Aberdeenshire East, Scottish National Party
- Date lodged: 31 May 2016
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Current status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 9 June 2016
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the value of the food industry is to the economy, and what steps it is taking to (a) expand and (b) promote the sector.
Answer
Turnover in the food and drink growth sector has reached a record of £14.3 billion (2013 figures, the latest available) moving closer to the target of £16.5 billion the industry set for 2017. Latest figures also show that since 2007, there has been an increase in food exports of 48% to £1.06 billion and drink exports of 36% to £3.9 billion. Retail sales of Scottish brands across Great Britain have increased by 35% to £1.89 billion since 2007.
The Scottish Government works with a range of public and private sector partners to promote and invest in the food and drink sector. This includes working with the Scotland Food and Drink Partnership on a new 2030 strategy which will be launched in 2017 to identify opportunities and priorities for the sector going forward. We will also be working with the sector to deliver on a number of manifesto commitments related to food and drink, ranging from a Good Food Nation Bill to support for local sourcing of produce.