SGF welcomed Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs Mairi Gougeon to Scotmid’s Broxburn store to mark the progress of the second phase of the SGF Go Local Programme, which helps convenience stores across Scotland provide dedicated, long-term display space for locally-sourced Scottish products.
The original 10-store pilot, which launched on 1 December 2020 and ran until June 2021, saw the SGF chose 10 geographically and demographically diverse stores across a range of fascia groups to prove proof of concept. Each store received match-funding.
The trial resulted in a 34% increase in the number of local products stocked thanks to more space dedicated to them, and a 40% rise in sales of local produce at shops that took part.
The success of the pilot has led to the second phase of the programme, which is advancing with 21 retailers, and will continue to develop the 10 pilot stores.
Rural Affairs Cabinet Secretary, Mairi Gougeon, said: “The initiative has also shown that our diverse and successful convenience store sector is ideally placed to give customers the greater choice of healthy produce they are looking for, while at the same time helping to achieve our net zero targets by reducing food miles.”
SGF chief executive, Pete Cheema, added: “The SGF Go Local programme has been an outstanding success to date and we are delighted that in recognition of this that the Cabinet Secretary has come to visit Scotmid’s Broxburn store to the see an excellent example of type of benefits the programme can bring to the local community through collaborative working.”
A virtual ‘Meet the Buyer’ event, organised by Scotland Food & Drink, will provide retailers with the opportunity to meet new suppliers and enhance their Scottish range. The virtual event will take place on 25 January 2022.
