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THE institution of the Burns Supper, now an annual celebration of the works of Scotland’s – and one of the world’s – great poets, Robert Burns, began in the very early 19th century. In 1801 some chums who were great admirers of the recently departed Rabbie, and who were also pretty fond of a dram, met on the fifth anniversary of the great writer’s death to wine, dine, toast his memory and recite some of his works. The following year the celebration moved to the date of the bard’s birthday 25 January and the rest as they say is history. The Burns Supper habit spread across Scotland. Within a few years a Burns Supper was being held in Oxford University. Today they are held all over the world. These days formal suppers can be quite posh with a multi-course dinner, a piper, a toast to the immortal memory of our great literary hero, a cheeky toast to the lassies, an even cheekier reply from the lassies, an address to the haggis and a recitation of Burns’ great narrative poem Tam o’Shanter. Other celebrations in homes and elsewhere are often much simpler. But virtually all will include two items that retailers can highlight in Burns season each year ... haggis and whisky. It’s sad that, because of marketing restrictions on alcohol products in Scottish off-trade outlets, it’s effectively impossible to cross-promote the two Burns Supper essentials or even to place them together in a display. But that’s all the more reason to promote them individually. Try highlighting haggis in your meat chiller, carry a few different sizes to suit the variety of sizes of households, use point-of-sale material to remind shoppers of Burns Night and the part that haggis plays in the celebrations. And you could make January a special malts month or simply arrange to focus on whisky generally in your drinks area. If you have a whisky deal that’s giving you a good margin highlight it within your drinks section. And creating a Burns theme in store, with tartan and maybe even pictures of the man himself, will help get the message across.

Power of the Bard

THE institution of the Burns Supper, now an annual celebration of the works of Scotland’s – and one of the world’s – great poets,...
Gordon Allan, director of Malcolm Allan, left, and Gordon Robinson, Bank of Scotland relationship director, right, outside the new Malcolm Allan headquarters in Larbert. The new plant was developed after a £2.9m finance deal with Bank of Scotland was agreed.

Top food firm enters new era

IF 2013 was a great year for Falkirk-based meat products producer Malcolm Allan, 2014 is likely to turn out to be important to the...
2014

Kicking off Scotland’s big year

FOR many Scots 2014 was always going to be a big year. The 700th anniversary of the battle of Bannockburn occurs in June and there’s...
Aberlour

Soaring malt brand adds expressions

• ABERLOUR, the malt whisky whose 10-year old stormed to the highest malt whisky position in last month’s Kantar WorldPanel top 25 Scottish drinks...
The Famous Grouse

Grouse toasts famous year

LATE last year Maxxium UK, which markets The Famous Grouse in the UK, said the previous 12 months has been the brand’s biggest year...
Haggis Bites from McKechnie Jess, which also produces Haggis Lasagne, Haggis Pakora and Spicy Haggis Dippers

Shock of the new – Haggis for all seasons

Stags and spice give haggis producers food for thought HAGGIS is closely linked to the annual Burns Night shindigs, but manufacturers are looking to promote...
Isle of Arran Distillery

Island malt a Burns Night tribute

THE Robert Burns single malt, from the Isle of Arran Distillery, is a special edition of The Arran Malt that’s named after Scotland’s world...
Scotty Brand neeps and tatties, an easy -to-prepare Burns Supper accompaniment.

Sales rising off the pie chart

NEW Year, celebrated just a few days ago, is marked in many houses by a family dinner where steak pie is the star of...
Breakfast booming in Britain

Breakfast booming in Britain

BREAKFAST is big business – the UK cereal market is worth some £1.55bn. Scottish porridge and oats brand Hamlyns earlier this year said a recent...
Scotland Food and Drink chief executive James Withers speaking at the Scottish Wholesale Association Conference.

To a big year and beyond

AS reported in last month’s Scottish Grocer, Scotland Food and Drink chief executive, James Withers, told an audience of Scottish wholesalers that Scotland’s food...
Archie Jess, above right, with Andrew Hemphill, president of Greenock Chamber of Commerce.

For a life in food – Jess recognised at awards ceremony

ARCHIE Jess, the driving force behind the meat processing business the AP Jess Group, has taken the Lifetime Achievement award in the Greenock Chamber...
Nae Danger sports drink

Nae kiddin’ – Energy drink performance picking up

IT may have started out as a bit of a laugh (Ross Gourlay, MD of distribution firm Glencrest thought it would be a good...
New times for whisky

New times for whisky – Product analysis

IT might be seen as ironic that the most successful Scottish food and drink sector, whisky, isn’t the overwhelming spirit of choice in its...
The sweetest things

The sweetest things – Traditional Scottish confectionery

SCOTLAND’s famous sweet tooth has, traditionally, been served by well-loved local confectionery suppliers. And in a world of global confectionery brands there are still companies...
From the family

From the family – Quality Meat Scotland campaign

TWO Perthshire farming families dedicated to producing top quality cattle – the McGowans of Incheoch Farms in Glenisla and the Flemings of Aberbothrie farms...
Norman Sinclair, centre, MD of Sinclair Breweries, picks up Orkney Dark Island Reserve’s Scotland Food and Drink Excellence Award.

Ale world leaders – Craft beer focus

SCOTLAND’S craft and small and medium-sized brewing scene has been transformed in recent years. Not only have many of our most interesting brewing companies survived...
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