Congratulations to those AFPS/ACBI members on their success in the recently announced grants for Capital Investment Scheme for marketing and processing in our sector. We hope it brings continued success to all involved in their business in the future.
Over half those who benefitted from the scheme were members of ACBI or our sister organisation for processors Associated Food Producers & Suppliers. (AFPS).
For several years we had been campaigning and lobbying for such aid as part of a project we branded the Small Food Firms Development Initiative. Indeed we can, with some justification claim a share of the credit for the introduction of this scheme.
Tellingly when the Government announced a 50 million scheme for the 'Export' plants we threatened to challenge it under the EU Rules for State Aid if something was not done for the sector we represent (because the so-called 'export' companies are significant wholesalers in the domestic market and therefore in direct competition with us).
This shows (as did the recent pigmeat crisis) the importance of having a body to represent small and medium sized food businesses. ACBI/AFPS has access to support for our members at the highest level, through our significant resources built up over the last, almost ten years.
In addition to the matters referred to here we provide a range of other business, employment law and other advice, discounted advertising and promotional opportunities in our publication, certified training and the opportunity to participate in our competitions and other events and, of course priority access to our retail members.
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