Scotland’s food and drink producers are being supported in their efforts to provide ‘healthier’ food choices by Food and Drink Federation (FDF) Scotland, which has provided funding to 13 food businesses.

Biscuits and confectionery manufacturers Aldomak, Border Biscuits and Dean’s of Huntly have been awarded funding. While a whole range of meat and butchery producers – including Bells Food Group, Hunters of Kinross, Macsween of Edinburgh, Malcolm Allan and Simon Howie – have received support. In addition, funding has been provided to Growers Garden who make broccoli crisps; free from snacks manufacturer Fodilicious; ingredient suppliers Cardowan Creameries and R&W Scott; and farm shop The Smiddy.

Food and drink businesses have a real desire to offer a wider range of healthier products – but the associated costs can be challenging. This is why FDF Scotland said it developed the Reformul8 Challenge Fund. This third round of support was made possible due to £50,000 of funding received from the Scotland Food & Drink Partnership Recovery Plan – supported by the Scottish Government.

FDF Scotland will be supporting food producers with a breadth of projects from salt reduction, fat reduction, fibre enrichment and sugar reduction. The fund will be used for a wide range of activities. This includes accessing nutritional testing and technical support, working with ingredient suppliers to access and trial new innovative solutions – that can improve the health of products, to developing new marketing and promotional materials. 

Joanne Burns, reformulation for health manager, FDF Scotland, said: “I am delighted that we have been able to provide a third round of funding to help even more food producers make their recipes healthier. To date we have rewarded funding to 45 food businesses across Scotland.

“I can’t wait to start working on these interesting projects with some of Scotland’s well-loved producers. Together we will be helping to make everyday food including biscuits, crisps, pies and haggis healthier. This in turn will improve the dietary health in communities across Scotland.”

Food businesses interested in finding out more about how FDF Scotland can support them can email reformulation@fdfscotland.org.uk.