£4m scheme to bulk up food profits

FOOD and drink companies are poised to tap expertise from Scotland's universities as part of a £4 million project to launch products or improve existing lines.

The Scottish Government wants to see firms taking a bite out of the 300 billion-plus global health and nutrition market.

Some 400 companies are expected to access Scottish Enterprise's new food and health innovation service over the next five years.

Maggie McGinlay, director of SE's food and drink team, said: "The global health, nutrition and wellbeing market is expected to be worth around 348bn by 2012.

"The UK market is worth 20bn and Scotland's share is 1bn of that."

Companies will be able to access help from Aberdeen University's Rowett Institute, Heriot-Watt University, Queen Margaret University and the Scottish Crop Research Institute.

l Pub group Mitchells & Butlers has promoted deputy chairman Simon Burke to replace chairman John Lovering. Burke joined the M&B board in January last year.