22 March 2007

2 minute read

Europe

However, yesterday at Queenslie in Glasgow an act of faith in the future of the red meat industry was more than evident when Ross Finnie, the rural development minister, opened the new £17 million processing plant of Scotbeef.

To describe the facility as state-of-the-art fails to do it justice. That £17m is the largest single investment in the sector by a UK company for many years. The premises encompass a floor area of 120,000sq ft, has three cold stores capable of handling 5,000 tonnes of meat and has two production areas. Integrated storage, processing, packing and a distribution capacity means that Scotbeef more than maintains its reputation as one of Scotland's leading meat companies.

The plant turns out 150 product lines a day for major UK customers, including Marks & Spencer, Sainsbury's, the Co-op and McDonald's. In addition, Scotbeef is rebuilding former export markets, with customers in Belgium, the Netherlands, France and Italy. Last year, the first time exports have been permitted since 1996, Scotbeef clocked up £15m worth of business and that is to increase by 20 per cent in the current year.

The plant turns out 150 product lines a day for major UK customers, including Marks & Spencer, Sainsbury's, the Co-op and McDonald's. In addition, Scotbeef is rebuilding former export markets, with customers in Belgium, the Netherlands, France and Italy. Last year, the first time exports have been permitted since 1996, Scotbeef clocked up £15m worth of business and that is to increase by 20 per cent in the current year.
Ian Galloway, the company's chairman, said: "The dual storage and production lines will increase efficiency and will become the centre for new product development. Some 170 people are employed on this site, and we expect this to double within the next two years."