FOOD to go has gained government support following a commitment by cabinet secretary Fergus Ewing to create a new £250,000 capital investment programme to support small independent grocers.
The new fund will be administered by the Scottish Grocers Federation, which will work with the Scottish Government to design criteria with a view to launching the programme in early 2018.
Speaking at the SGF conference, Fergus Ewing said: “Many of our small independent and family-run convenience stores are operating in a very competitive trading environment and are having to adapt and innovate to continue to meet changing consumer behaviours.
“One such way of doing this is through the introduction of food-to-go stations, which entice customers into the store and generate a new income stream.”
SGF chief executive Pete Cheema said he was delighted by the announcement.
“The Scottish Government is making an unprecedented investment in the independent convenience store sector in Scotland,” he said
