Famous butcher’s brand remains popular thanks to keenly priced, high-quality offerings for consumers
EVERYONE in Scotland should be able to buy a quality Malcolm Allan product that they can enjoy.
That’s the belief of director Gordon Allan, who says the famous butcher’s brand has modified its range to help consumers still be able to afford a nice meal during the ongoing cost-of-living crisis.
He pointed out that the company manufactured a wide range of meat products to suit different needs and budgets – catering to the needs of everyone from individuals to large families.
And it is this approach to business that has ensured Malcolm Allan – “Scotland’s Family Butcher” – has maintained its place in the country’s top 10 brands in 2023, according to the Kantar research.
The boss highlighted the firm’s gastro-type pies, which have been hugely successful with consumers, as a good example of how the Larbert-based business has kept the quality but adapted the range.
So these pies are offered in four varieties – steak, steak mince, mince and haggis, and mince and black pudding – each with differing price points to suit varying customer budgets.
But he emphasised that, whatever the Malcolm Allan product and price, high quality was a key factor. Allan said: “We say that if it is not good enough to take home, we won’t sell it.”
As an example, he cited the firm’s big 1kg steak pie, which he claimed was available through the grocery channel for about half the price it would cost if bought from a traditional local butcher, yet had the same quality.
Allan added: “We’re also selling a lot of steak and sausage pies and sausage and onion pies as these suit many consumers’ budgets during the current financial difficulties.”
He also pointed out that the decision to concentrate on the Scottish market, rather than incur the costs of going south, contributed to the company’s success in its homeland.
This also boosts the firm’s sustainability credentials as it reduces food miles – and the boss said he was encouraged by the support Malcolm Allan has received from the Scottish convenience channel during the last year.
Repackaging of the pie lines to use printed film wrap has also resulted in 100 tonnes of cardboard being removed annually – further enhancing the company’s eco efforts.
Malcolm Allan is renowned as a one-stop shop for retail meat product solutions – with a range of sausage products, haggis, plack puddings and burgers in a variety of formats.
Famously, the brand makes some 50 tonnes of Lorne sausage a week and its popularity with customers sees its produce available in a wide variety of outlets, including major supermarkets, Co-op and Spar c-stores, discounter Iceland and wholesaler Booker.
With the order book for the rest of 2023 full, Malcolm Allan’s success looks certain to continue in 2024. As Allan said: “There are a lot of business opportunities out there at the moment.”
