Export success for haggis in Canada
Macsween Haggis managing director James Macsween said: “We always wanted to enter the Canadian market, given the population of Scottish expats living there. Luckily, we were able to develop a new recipe to meet Canadian regulations in 2017.
“Since then, we’ve had great success and now have customers in Canada sending us photos of Macsween haggis in their local supermarkets.
Macsween advised any producers looking to export to go for it, no matter how small their company, adding that punching “above their weight” had been hugely beneficial for the business.
‘Opening doors’
“There is support out there and our contacts in the UK Government have been brilliant in opening doors for us,” he added.
With 60 employees in its Loanhead factory, Macsween manufactures 1,900t of haggis each year for countries including Singapore, Dubai, France, Germany and the US. The company saw a 30% increase in sales and is forecast to reach a turnover of £1.7m in January.
Commenting on Macsween’s export success, international trade secretary Liam Fox said: “The company’s international success is testament to the high-quality produce in the UK and is showcasing the best of Scottish food and entrepreneurial success this Burns Night.
‘Enter the global marketplace’
“I encourage other UK food and drink companies to consider exporting their products and reach out to leading trade advisers in my international economic department, who are providing support to businesses as they enter the global marketplace for the first time.”
Secretary of state for Scotland David Mundell repeated Fox’s calls for companies looking to export to take advantage of the opportunities available and meet the demand for Scottish produce both at home and internationally.
Meanwhile, Scottish food bodies have joined forces to “implore” the Government to avoid a no-deal Brexit situation that could cost the industry over £2bn in lost sales a year.
