Every year the public sector in Scotland spends almost £150 million on food and drink. Over one third of local authority money is spent on Scotland Excel frameworks, including school meals.
Lucy Husband, UK market development director at Scotland Food & Drink, said: "Supplying the public sector can be very profitable for Scottish food and drink producers, and Scotland Food & Drink are working closely with Scotland Excel to highlight these opportunities.
“We need Scottish suppliers to engage in this lucrative sector and will be providing future support to understand the changing dynamics and increase in opportunities it brings.”
Scotland Food & Drink is working towards Ambition 2030, which aims to double the size of Scotland’s food and drink industry to £30 billion in turnover by 2030.
Magnus Swanson, managing director at Swanson’s Food Wholesalers, added: “We’ve been supplying Highland Council with fresh fruit and vegetables for seven years now.
“Not only do we take great comfort in the fact that our children are being fed the best of local produce, but this also helps to promote what fantastic food is on our doorstep and at the same time supports local farming and agriculture. As a local company we love to support local as much as possible.”
It is not just larger companies that are getting involved in supplying Scotland’s public sector.
Jayne Jones, national chair of ASSIST FM, the ‘voice’ of Scottish local authorities, commented: “Local authorities across Scotland are already making great strides in supporting local food businesses through their procurement. But we know there’s the opportunity to do even more.
“Buying food and drink locally is investing public money back into the local economy, which supports local business and boosts employment.”
The Scottish Government has supported the Food for Life Scotland programme since 2012, with the aim of supporting councils to get more Scottish food onto school dinner plates.
If you are a Scottish supplier that would like to see your product on the plates of school children across the country, contact: LWardle@soilassociation.org