We are proud to announce the launch of the Scottish Wholesale Local Food and Drink Growth Fund, an exciting new initiative designed to further support wholesalers and food producers in increasing the volume of local Scottish produce sold through wholesale channels. 

With the backing of £195,000 in funding from the Scottish Government, the SWA will provide match funding of up to £10,000 per business for wholesalers whose applications to the fund are successful. Our goal is to increase the turnover of Scottish produce sold through Scottish wholesalers to 35% of baseline sales. This initiative marks the third phase of our groundbreaking Delivering Growth Through Wholesale (DGTW) local sourcing programme, which we launched in 2021. 

DGTW was developed in collaboration with SAOS and Scotland Food & Drink, with the support of the Scottish Government. The programme is designed to educate and engage producers on the opportunities within the wholesale sector. Since its inception, DGTW has led to over 230 new Scottish product listings through new wholesale partnerships, resulting in a significant increase in sales through wholesale channels. 

Learn more about the DGTW training programme here. 

The Scottish Wholesale Local Food and Drink Growth Fund is open to food and drink wholesalers operating within Scotland’s retail, hospitality, and leisure sectors, as well as the licensed on-trade and public sectors. To be eligible, wholesalers must have premises and employees based in Scotland. We will also consider whether a producer has completed the DGTW training programme and whether the wholesaler has trained Wholesale Local Food Champions within their business when awarding funds.  

Our Wholesale Local Food Champion (WLFC) training, which is free to employees within Scotland’s wholesale sector, is an extension of the DGTW producer initiative. It provides individuals within wholesale businesses with the knowledge needed to take responsibility for shaping their company’s local sourcing strategy. By becoming a Champion, they are taking an active role in creating a strong and sustainable local food and drink supply chain. 

Learn more about the WLFC programme here. 

The financial support provided by the Scottish Wholesale Local Food and Drink Growth Fund can be utilised in various ways. Whether it’s helping businesses become “local sourcing” wholesalers, developing a local sourcing strategy, training local sourcing buyers, or creating joint business plans with producers, the fund is here to support wholesalers in their efforts to promote local Scottish produce.  

Colin Smith, our Chief Executive, expressed his enthusiasm for the new fund: “We are delighted to have secured this funding from the Scottish Government – it recognises the critical role that wholesale plays in supporting local producers and demonstrates confidence in our DGTW programme, which continues to gain momentum and resonate with both wholesalers and producers.” 

“Already, we are seeing a positive impact across the food and drink sector since the programme’s launch in 2021, and we are eager to move forward with this latest phase of the project, which will provide direct financial support for wholesalers as we strive to further strengthen the Scottish food and drink supply chain.” 

While the primary aim of the new fund is to help promote a sustainable and prosperous food and drink wholesale industry in Scotland, it also supports the broader objectives of aiding economic recovery post-Covid and contributing to the Scottish Government's vision of becoming a Good Food Nation. 

We will be managing the Scottish Wholesale Local Food and Drink Growth Fund, building on our proven track record of delivering Scottish Government financial support to businesses.  

The fund opens for applications on 13th August 2024, and wholesalers can apply for funding here.  

The deadline for applications is the 6th of September.