Scotland Excel supports new drive to increase Scottish food sourcing

Scotland Excel has welcomed the launch of the Scottish Government’s Public Sector Food Procurement Taskforce, which aims to increase the use of locally produced food across Scotland’s public sector.

Scotland Excel will join the taskforce which brings together public sector organisations and industry partners to identify opportunities to increase the sourcing of Scottish food and develop practical solutions to strengthen local supply chains.

Strategic Procurement Manager Laura Muir represented Scotland Excel and Scotland's local authority procurement community at the launch meeting of the Taskforce, which has been established to identify barriers to increasing local food sourcing.

Bringing together representatives from across the food industry, including producers, processors, buyers and procurement specialists, the Taskforce will explore ways to improve access to Scottish produce in public sector settings while supporting Scotland's farmers, crofters and food producers.

Laura joined stakeholders from across Scotland's food and drink sector for the first meeting, contributing Scotland Excel's experience in developing and managing collaborative food procurement arrangements for local authorities.

Laura Muir, Strategic Procurement Manager at Scotland Excel, said: "I was pleased to represent Scotland Excel at the first meeting of the Public Sector Food Procurement Taskforce and contribute to discussions on increasing opportunities for Scottish producers within public sector supply chains.

“Scotland Excel works closely with local authorities, suppliers and industry stakeholders to deliver procurement solutions that balance quality, value for money, sustainability and supply chain resilience. The discussions highlighted both the opportunities and the practical challenges involved in increasing local food procurement. We look forward to working with the Scottish Government, producers, suppliers and public sector organisations to help develop practical, evidence-based recommendations that support Scotland's agricultural sector while continuing to meet the needs of public sector catering services."

As the centre of procurement expertise for Scotland's local government sector, Scotland Excel recognises the important role public procurement can play in supporting Scotland's food and drink sector.

Through its food procurement arrangements, the organisation continues to explore opportunities to improve access to local and Scottish produce while ensuring compliance with procurement legislation and delivering best value for its members. This includes:

·       Regular engagement with Scottish producers, suppliers and industry representatives during framework development and contract management activities.

·       Procurement strategies designed to encourage participation from SMEs and regional suppliers where appropriate and compliant with procurement legislation.

·       Collaboration with local authorities and suppliers to identify opportunities for increasing the availability of Scottish produce through public sector contracts.

·       Market engagement events and supplier information sessions to improve awareness of public sector opportunities and requirements.

·       Ongoing work to balance local sourcing ambitions with value for money, food safety, sustainability and security of supply considerations.

Scotland Excel looks forward to contributing its procurement expertise as the Taskforce develops recommendations to help strengthen local supply chains, improve access to Scottish produce and support the ambitions of Scotland's Good Food Nation agenda.