The Scottish government will extend its food-to-go capital investment fund by £300,000, first minister Nicola Sturgeon has announced.

Speaking at the Scottish Grocers Federation’s centenary conference last week, she said the money would “help grocers to provide people with access to good quality, locally sourced and healthy food”.

She added: “A diverse and successful convenience store sector is vital in serving communities throughout Scotland. Last year’s food-to-go fund was very effective in supporting small retailers the length and breadth of the country, to entice customers into their stores and generate a new income stream for grocers.”

When the fund first ran in 2017, it put £250,000 aside for retailers who wished to develop a food-to-go station, and offered to match 50% of the upfront costs. 

The new fund more than doubles this, and includes £50,000 from Zero Waste Scotland.

Sturgeon commended the SGF, thanking it for its work searching for the most retail-friendly deposit return scheme system for Scotland.

“The findings of the study will inform the shaping of the policy,” she said.

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