More Scottish cheese will be served in schools thanks to a new £1.5million dairy supply deal.
The deal between cheese manufacturer Lacatlis McLelland, wholesale food company Brakes Scotland, and procurement agencies Scotland Excel and Cordia, will see Scottish cheese served to more than half a million school pupils across Scotland.
The agreement, which is forecast to require an annual supply of 385 tonnes of cheese, has been hailed by Rural Economy Secretary Fergus Ewing.
It follows calls by Mr Ewing for more schools, hospitals and public sector organisations to stock more food and drink produced in Scotland.
“The £1.5million deal will ensure that more of our school children enjoy the benefits of locally produced food, and will provide a welcome boost to our primary producers working tirelessly to put food on our tables,” said Mr Ewing.
Lactalis McLelland category sales director, Mike Chatters, said the volume of cheese required for the deal would be the equivalent of 3.8million litres of milk a year.
Brakes Scotland procurement director, Sarah Mackie, said: “This is the latest in several new Scottish-sourced products that schools have been buying through Brakes Scotland along with Scotch Beef burgers, sliced Scotch Beef and Specially Selected ham as well as snacks which all conform to the school nutritional guidelines.”