A total of 19 Scottish food and drink companies have been awarded grants worth almost £8.5m in the latest round of funding by the Scottish Government.

A further six companies have been awarded £546k through the food Marketing Development scheme. The latest awards from the Food Processing, Marketing and Co-operation (FPMC) scheme now means that 175 Scottish projects have benefitted from £47m in support since 2009.

In the latest round of funding, five whisky companies have received grants that will enable them to build new distilleries and storage facilities. 40 new jobs will also be created as a result.

Food processing companies ranging from cheese manufacturers to meat processors have also received grants to improve, extend or build new facilities.

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Those who received government monies include:

• Adelphi, Ardnamurchan (£1.7m to build a new distillery)
• Ballindalloch, Aberdeenshire (£1.2m to build a new micro distillery and warehouse)
• Grahams Dairies, Nairn (£482k to purchase a new site for yoghurt and cottage cheese lines)
• Rannoch Smokery, Kinloch Rannoch (£138k to upgrade the factory and meat curing line)
• St Andrews farmhouse Cheese, Pittenweem (£22k to purchase manufacturing and storage equipment)

Environment Secretary Richard Lochhead said: "Food and drink is one of Scotland's greatest success stories. It's fitting that the £8.5 million in FPMC support is being announced at the Royal Highland Show where so many Scottish companies are displaying their delicious produce.

"The growth and success of the Scottish drinks' industry is continuing and this funding will benefit several companies across Scotland and support the creation of new jobs, further investment and export opportunities."

All grant awards are subject to confirmation of eligible expenditure.

The Food Processing, Marketing and Co-operation (FPMC) grant scheme is part of the Scotland Rural Development Programme.

(JP/MH)