Beef & Lamb Supply Chain Aid
25/08/05

A GROUP of businesses is celebrating after they won cash under the English Beef and Lamb Executive (EBLEX) grant scheme.

The latest tranche saw 15 firms vying for grants, of which seven have been approved and get the money over one to three years under the Quality Standard umbrella.

The grants scheme was launched at the end of last year and is aimed at helping business innovation and supply chain efficiency.

Grant Scheme Manager Clive Brown said: "The latest batch of applications contained some extremely good, fresh ideas which we are only too happy to support. "One of our core objectives is to improve efficiency and co-operation in the beef and lamb supply chain and these grants are a very effective tool to help achieve that."

The successful firms were:

Melton Meat Ltd, Melton Mowbray, £30,000, to add value to low value items such as mutton.

Gerald David and family, Minehead, £45,000, to develop the market for quality red meat from the Exmoor area.

Rowland Agar, wholesale butchers, Ilkley, £5,200, to create a local supply chain for a branded product and link to local butcher outlets.

Country Valley Foods, Darlington, £45,000 to launch a premium beef and lamb brand 'Grand Reserve' under the QSM umbrella.

EFFP Ltd, London, £5,000, a three-phase feasibility study to identify commercial opportunities for farmer controlled businesses working together to supply the foodservice sector.

Livestock Auctioneers Association, £45,000 a project to incorporate livestock markets into assurance schemes.

HR Jasper and Son, Launceston, Cornwall £45,000, developing a fully integrated supply chain for branded English lamb.