Boost for local food and drink

Oct 20 2008

Boosting sales of locally-produced food and drink is the long-term aim of a new project to raise their profile, target potential suppliers and purchasers and secure new supply opportunities.

Funded by the LEADER rural development programme and the council, a study of the local food and drink sector is to be undertaken with an overall aim of the project being to bridge the gap between primary producers and their potential markets and consumers.

The local food and drink project will look at ways to piece together the jigsaw of local food production and purchasing in a way that also develops local businesses and improves the overall economic benefit to the area.

Councillor Chris Thompson, the chair of the council's Enterprise Resources Committee, said: "Local food producers, processors, and potential suppliers will be identified and mapped, together with their potential markets, retailers, and purchasing organisations.

"The aim is to then understand what support is required to close the gap between the producers and consumers, and how we can further develop the profile of food produced in the area and increase the purchase of local foods by local people, local businesses and visitors to the area.

"The project will also run workshops to bring suppliers, distributors and consumers physically together to identify 'home-grown' solutions for networking, marketing and distribution."

It is hoped businesses and individuals will benefit from this exciting opportunity. The project will also help clarify the local food provision in order to meet the growing demand for regional food and drink.

In the first phase, the council will be asking businesses about the supply of produce within the region and their business in general. This should take no longer than five minutes. Please note that all information provided will be treated as confidential.

You can fill out the local food and drink development survey online (this link will open in a new window). Should you have any comments or queries please do not hesitate to contact Douglas Bell on 01555 662562 or e-mail douglas.bell@sac.co.uk

More information about the LEADER programme can be found at www.southlanarkshireleader.com (this link will open in a new window) and South Lanarkshire Council's Rural Regeneration team can be contacted at rural.regeneration@southlanarkshire.gov.uk