GRANTS of more than £125,000 have been won by a range of companies seeking the improve the supply chain for British pork.

There were 11 firms vying for money from the British Pig Executive (BPEX) Supply Chain Grant Scheme and seven were successful.

Marketing Director Richard Lowe said: "These grants have really proved their value with recipients from earlier applications making good progress.

"The knock-on effects will; bring benefits not only to the individual supply chains, but the whole industry."

The successful applicants were:

Wenlock Edge Farm, £10,000 to grow a processing business that sells directly via mainly local farm shops, retail and foodservice.

Underwood Meat Company Ltd, £13,000, to develop value added products for foodservice customers Dingley Dell Pork, £37,650, for product development in a range of products and to communicate the benefits to retailers, foodservice customers and directly to consumers.

Canterbury Foods, £8,000, to develop and promote a low fat sausage roll for school meals.

Geo Adams and Sons (Retail) Ltd, £4,820, to support the communication of the quality of hand raised pork pies and other traditional products.

The Country Victualler, £27,000, to establish a supply of pigs direct from farm to replace the current supply, most of which is imported and to achieve QSM accreditation.

Redhill Farm Free Range Pork, £25,000 to help an established business extend the product base in air-dried hams and bacon and the strengthen and broaden the customer base.