The annual turnover for Scotland’s food and drink industry reached a record £14.4 billion in 2014, the latest figures show.

The Scottish Government said the numbers show Scotland’s food manufacturing sector grew at twice the rate of the UK average from 2008-2014, increasing by 43% in Scotland compared to 21% in the UK.

“The food and drink sector continues to be one of our most successful and that success shows no sign of slowing down,” said Fergus Ewing, Cabinet Secretary for Rural Economy and Connectivity, as he welcomed the figures at the start of Scottish Food & Drink Fortnight.

“The industry is vital to Scotland — it creates jobs and wealth, impacts on health and sustainability, and helps attract people to the country by promoting our food and drink around the globe.

“This record turnover means that the sector is making good progress towards meeting the 2017 target of £16.5 billion, which has been set by Scotland Food & Drink.”

Scotland Food & Drink chief executive James Withers said: “These are great figures and testament to a transformation in food and drink activity in Scotland over the last few years.

“The sector is not without challenges and uncertainty, but for a sector whose growth was stagnant a few years ago, this has been a major turnaround.

“The Scottish industry is now being recognised internationally for how it has embraced collaboration to grow, forging a stronger global reputation for our products.

“Opportunities still abound at home and overseas.

“We’re investing in developing new customers across the UK and in key international markets.

“That work, alongside deeper partnership working between different industry bodies and government, will be the key to success in the coming years and central to a new 2030 strategy to be launch early next year.”