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Celebrate our success in innovation

It has been widely acknowledged that innovation is the very life-blood of Scotland's thriving food and drink manufacturing industry. Yet we seldom get to hear about much of the ground-breaking work being quietly undertaken by manufacturers across the country.

Find out more about our industry's innovative approach in:

• Competitiveness
• Health and wellbeing
• Sustainability
• Work in the community.

Competitiveness

Border Biscuits: Investment the basis of ambitious growth programme

2011 has been an exciting year so far for Border Biscuits, with investment in the capacity and capability of its plant, an extensive redesign of its packaging and website, and the launch of its first advertising campaign on STV. The company has also expanded its portfolio with the launch of its award winning, new Gourmet Goodness range.

View Border Biscuit case study

Macphie: Brand innovation delivers for Macphie

With their market research showing a growing consumer interest in restaurant quality food to serve at dinner parties, Macphie seized the opportunity to create a unique range of dessert solutions: DeviliShh “posh puds”.

View Macphie case study

Macrae: Scottish salmon features in Blumenthal recipe

As a dedicated supplier to Waitrose, Macrae supplies over 90 per cent of their ready to eat seafood. The salmon industry is hugely important to the Scottish economy, so the creation of high value added products in this market is vital.

View Macrae case study

Orkney Herring: Kosher market opens up major US market for island food company

Orkney Herring are enjoying growing export success in the States thanks to the Kosher status of their products and an innovative collaboration with a US Kosher fish specialist. In less than 3 years, US exports now accounts for 15 per cent of the company's annual turnover.

View Orkney Herring case study

Quaker: £8.5m investment will meet growing demand for porridge

Quaker Oats So Simple revolutionised the porridge market and broke the barriers to porridge consumption by making it easier to cook and offering taste variations. To meet increasing consumer demand, PepsiCo UK is investing £8.5 million in its Quaker Oats site in Cupar. This investment will increase their milling and rolling capacity by 4.5 tonnes per hour.

View case study

VC2 Brands: Product innovation drives export success

Operating in a highly competitive market dominated by global brands, VC2 Brands has fast become recognised as an industry leader, delivering a wide range of innovative drink products to international markets.

View VC2 Brands case study

Sco-Fro Group: Innovation core to success of Galloway investment

In 2010 Sco-Fro Group Ltd's Seafood Division made a £4m investment in their Galloway Seafoods factory. This included a state of the art new coldstore with a bespoke stock control system and a new production line that has catalysed innovative new product development activity.

View Sco-Fro Group case study

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Health and Wellbeing

Baxters: New soup range satisfies hunger for longer

Baxters Stay Full is a new range of soups that satisfy hunger for longer. The range has been crafted with Baxters culinary expertise and passion for great tasting soups. Each of the five recipes contain a selection of high protein vegetables, meats and pulses along with balanced carbohydrates.

View Baxters case study

Macphie: World-leading collaboration set to revolutionise the baking industry

Macphie and Heriot Watt University recently identified that ultrasound technology, originally developed by the University for tailoring the functionality of polymers used for medical implants, could be applied within the food industry.

View Macphie case study

Nairns: Innovating within the gluten-free market

In 2009, food manufacturer Nairn's Oatcakes embarked on an challenging project to develop a new range of gluten free oat products. The scale of the project involved sourcing uncontaminated pure oats, setting up a separate production facility with new machinery and marketing the products in a different category.

View Nairns case study

Scobie and Junor: Assisting the development of healthier added value products

Ingredient manufacturers Scobie and Junor are committed to helping food manufacturers produce great tasting, innovative and healthy products. In addition to bespoke new product development work, Scobie and Junor launched a hugely successful Salt Reduction campaign in 2010 and in 2011has introduced a range of low salt, 'natural' mixes and glazes.

View Scobie and Junor case study

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Sustainability

Coca Cola Enterprises: Ambitious targets result in reduced environmental impact

Coca Cola Enterprises (CCE) has set out a number of ambitious targets in relation to environmental sustainability. Their “commitment 2020” goals include reducing their overall carbon footprint by 15 per cent by 2020, reducing the impact of their packaging and maximising their use of recyclable resources and having a water neutral impact on the local communities where they operate.

View Coca Cola case study

Macrae: Reducing environmental impact in the supply chain

Macrae Edinburgh has taken a comprehensive, sustainable approach to environmental management in order to reduce their environmental impact throughout the supply chain.

View Macrae case study

Matthew Algie: Influencing sustainability across the world

Working with farmers across the globe, Matthew Algie is in a unique position to influence the sustainability of world-wide coffee production. In partnership with M&S as a major customer, Matthew Algie has played a central role in delivering on key M&S commitments on climate change and ethical sourcing.

Macsween: Leading the way on environmental sustainability

Macsween has developed an innovative approach to environmental management simply because it is the “right thing to do”. In addition to reducing their impact on the environment the company has reduced costs whilst also increasing their competitiveness.

Rannoch Smokery: Hydro scheme delivers sustainable energy

Rannoch Smokery has developed a £2m hydro scheme that supplies renewable energy exclusively to M&S. Under the scheme, excess water from two rivers on Innerhadden estate is siphoned off before being transported through underground pipes. It drives a turbine to produce energy, which is fed into the National Grid.

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Work in the community

Charcuterie: Primary 7 pupils inspired to work in the food industry

Meat and sausage manufacturer Charcuterie, which is part of the ANM Group Ltd, teamed up with their local primary school to challenge around 50 primary 7 pupils to set up their own companies. The project was delivered as part of SFDF's innovative schools programme 'A Future in Food'.

View Charcuterie case study

Matthew Algie: Making a difference in the developing world

Matthew Algie has developed their brand on ethical principles. This is not only good for business but for the communities across the world that supply their coffee. Working in partnership with farmers in the developing world, Matthew Algie helps them to diversify into areas that will see a return and ultimately have a positive impact on their livelihood.

View Matthew Algie case study

Stag Bakeries: School partnership focuses on industry careers

Stag Bakeries set 100 S2 pupils from four local schools on the Isle of Lewis an ambitious challenge to devise a new biscuit that would appeal to Stag Bakeries main customer base. Using the food industry as a context for learning, the pupils used many transferable skills to do everything from costing the ingredients, investigating food miles to a scientific analysis of their recipe.

View Stag Bakeries case study