Scottish food and drink companies have been benefitting from a project that is helping them invest in R&D and develop new products for the health, nutrition and wellbeing market.

The Food & Health Innovation Service (FHIS), funded by Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise and managed by a consortium led by Campden BRI, was established in 2011, and has so far helped over 250 companies on a one-to-one basis with their NPD endeavours.

Project leader, Philip Richardson comments, "The global market for health, nutrition and wellness products is growing strongly, and the Scottish food and drink sector, with a source of intrinsically healthy raw materials on the doorstep, is ideally placed to capitalise upon this opportunity. Developing healthy food and drink products can be a challenge for companies of all sizes, particularly when it comes to deploying the correct blend of science, technology and marketing to maximise commercial success. FHIS helps companies navigate the landscape, implement solutions that are appropriate to their business, and maximise the chances of success."

Over the period a considerable number of companies have been looking for advice and support around product reformulation, as pressure comes to bear to reduce fat, sugar and salt from products. There has also been a huge amount of interest in free from food and drink products, as well as from companies who are seeking to exploit the intrinsically healthy characteristics of products they offer.