Argyll Food Producers
Co-operative Development Scotland funded a feasibility study to help Argyll Food Producers assess its potential as a co-operative business.
Argyll Food Producers is a co-operative of seven food producers from across Argyllshire and the Clyde Islands.
The member companies include Bumble, a maker hand-made puddings; Barbreck Farms, a cattle and sheep farm producing its own beef and lamb products; Winston Churchill Wild Venison, a venison gamekeeper and producer and Loch Fyne Oysters, the seafood business.
The co-operative sells its products as ready-to-eat food at events under the Food from Argyll banner and was formed in November 2008 following successful joint marketing activity at a number of events, including the Connect Music Festival, T in the Park and the Wickerman Festival.
Fergus Younger of the Argyll and Bute Agricultural Forum helps promote sustainable rural businesses and facilitated the creation of the co-operative. He said:
"It was a gradual process from seeing the opportunity of working together, through a series of trials at events in 2008 to formalising themselves by becoming a co-operative. They were more attractive working together than by themselves and could benefit from economies of scale such as sharing the cost of marquees."
Alexandra Marshall of Bumble Puddings makes a range of puddings in flavours including sticky toffee, sticky raspberry and ginger. She said joining Argyll Food Producers had been "unequivocally" beneficial.
"One of the things I didn't anticipate is how good it was to work with each other, and how that kept us all going when we were taking on new events," Alexandra explained. "It has also helped me feel more confident about what I'm doing. You can't help but be more enthusiastic and passionate about your puddings when people are queuing at events for second helpings."
Winston Churchill Wild Venison produces venison products including burgers, sausages, pies, steaks, fillets and whole haunches or saddles for the hotel trade. Owner Winston Churchill was initially sceptical about the benefit of selling hot food at events under the Food from Argyll banner, but is now excited about the co-operative's potential.
"Short-term, it will increase our sales and increase our exposure," he said. "Long-term, it's difficult to be precise about the benefits at this early stage, but we are already talking about the possibility of Food from Argyll merchandise such as Christmas hampers."
For more information, visit the Food from Argyll website or the Argyll Agricultural Forum website.
For information or advice on starting your own co-operative, contact us or call us on 0141 951 3055.