Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands, Mairi Gougeon MSP, joined staff at Scotmid’s new butchery at their South Queensferry store this week, highlighting the tremendous success of the SGF Go Local programme.
Scotmid Co-op welcomed Ms Gougeon and representatives from Scotland Food & Drink and the Scottish Grocers Federation with a tour of the new in-store butchery department, operated by Edinburgh based Charles Wilson Butchers.
Approaching five years since the launch of the joint programme, Go Local brings together local producers and local retailers and helps ensure customers have access to high-quality local produce, leaning in to growing demand for fresh, sustainable and healthy food & drink.
A recent report on the benefits of Go Local project was published earlier in the year, highlighting a remarkable increase in Scottish products being sold over the counter in participating stores. Taking part in the programme results in an average growth in sales of goods sourced from local producers of 44 per cent. The report also provides evidence of a significant multiplier impact and boost for the local economy, with expected increases of around £159k per store per annum.
“It’s fantastic to see first-hand the impact of the Go Local programme at Scotmid’s South Queensferry store," said Gougeon. "The new butchery, operated by Charles Wilson Butchers, is a brilliant example of how Scottish Government support is helping retailers connect with local producers and bring fresh, high-quality food to communities. Go Local is delivering real benefits for our local economies by supporting jobs and responding to growing demand for sustainable, healthy Scottish produce."
Danny Scobie, Head of Food to Go, Local & New Business Development for Scotmid added: “Scotmid is committed to serving our communities and improving people’s everyday lives. By working in partnership with local, high-quality producers, we’re able to bring the very best of Scotland’s food and drink directly to our customers every day. Our new partnership with Charles Wilson Butchers is a fantastic example of this – supporting a long-established Edinburgh business while giving our South Queensferry community access to fresh, sustainable and locally sourced produce.”
Scotland Food & Drink UK Market Manager, Angus Bell said: “Everyone at Scotland Food & Drink is delighted to continue supporting the Go Local programme, working in partnership with the Scottish Grocers’ Federation to link local producers with participating convenience retailers. The convenience channel is hugely important to local producers and communities in Scotland, and we are hosting a Scottish Market Place at the Scottish Grocers’ Federation Conference on Wednesday, 1 October to continue our work showcasing the breadth and quality of Scottish produce, which is vital for supporting growth.
Jamie Buchanan, SGF Go Local Programme Director, also commented: “Scotmid have been great supporters of the Go Local programme since its inception and participated in the original 2021 pilot with the installation of a new butchery department in their Broxburn store. Four years on, Go Local has supported the installation of a butchery department in their South Queensferry store, operated by Charles Wilson, a quality Edinburgh butcher of some 40 years, providing vital access to fresh and sustainable food for the local community.”
Administered by the Scottish Grocer’s Federation, the Go Local Programme provides individual grants for retailers to invest in expanding dedicated space for local products, provides assets to improve consumer engagement and is supported by Scotland Food & Drink facilitating ‘meet-the-buyer’ events linking up local retailers with producers in their area.