Argyll and Bute Council has agreed an investment of £100,000 to support the national and international growth of the area’s food sector.
At its meeting today (Thursday 28 June), the council agreed in principle to provide Bute Islands Foods Ltd with financial support to expand its vegan cheese business.
The company produces a range of dairy free vegan cheese products under the brand “Sheese”. The products are already stocked by several large UK retailers and exported to the EU and rest of the world.
With demand high, the company is planning to invest in the region of £750,000+ in developing its operations over the next two to three years.
This will bring a significant number of new jobs and lever millions of pounds into the local economy.
Councillor Aileen Morton, Policy Lead for Economic Development, said: “This support will allow a local business to expand and our local economy to grow.
"Changes in our population mean that we must attract people and jobs to ensure that Argyll and Bute’s future is a good one.
"Bute Island Foods is exactly the kind of business we want to see thrive across Argyll and Bute – an innovative product produced by local people working for a company that is committed to a future in Argyll and Bute.”
Bute Islands Foods Ltd Director, Mark Crichton said: “It is thanks to our dedicated, talented and loyal team that we have grown into the market leaders for dairy-free cheese alternatives. The dairy-free market is rapidly expanding and this exciting development project will allow us to increase our production and storage, enabling us to service our growing customer base in the UK and Worldwide.
"We are absolutely delighted that Argyll and Bute Council is supporting this project. It will help create an additional 30 to 40 jobs on the Isle of Bute for years to come."