Highland Meats will get £2m from the Scottish Government to upgrade its processing facilities.

Speaking to the Farmers Journal Scotland, the Ayrshire-based meat processor said the money is for upgrading equipment and facilities.

Isla Roebuck, Dawn’s UK operations director, said the company planned “development of our facility to ensure that Highland Meats has the most modern technologies that will allow future growth opportunities for quality red meat from Scotland.

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“We are delighted that the Scottish Government has agreed to support that investment through the Food Processing Marketing and Co-Operation Grant scheme,” said Roebuck.

Highland Meats is part of the Irish-based Dawn Meats group, which recently entered a joint venture with Dunbia as the majority partner to merge their operations in the UK.

In Scotland this means that Highland Meats will be part of a group that includes Dunbia’s small factory in Elgin and its retail packing facility in Ayr, which is close to Highland Meats in Saltcoats.

Highland also supplied beef for sampling at SIAL Toronto at the end of April, along with Donald Russell.

Other recipients of upgrades were ABP Perth, which received £667,061 to upgrade faculties. The Chapman’s Aberdeen & Northern Egg company was awarded £241,774 for a site upgrade. Sandyford Abattoir was also awarded money for a site upgrade, to the tune of £100,171.