Food News
Tulip and Scottish pork producers have taken control of a Scottish processing plant as part of a new collaboration said to be “fantastic news” for the Scottish pig industry.
Pork processor Tulip has teamed up with pig supply co-operatives Scotlean Pigs and Scottish Pig Producers in a new entity called Quality Pork Limited (QPL), at a pork facility in Brechin, based in Angus,
Bob Yuill, deputy chief executive of the Scottish Agricultural Organisation Society (SAOS), which supports co-operative farming in Scotland welcomed the initiative: “It is very significant that the plant is now effectively in the hands of pig producers. This strategic collaboration amongst the co-ops is hugely important and an example of the kind of cross-European partnership that we need to see more of.”
QPL said they have future plans on upgrading the site by adding a new slaughter line, chilling and lorry wash facilities which will increase the capacity of the operation.
Andrew Saunders, director of agriculture at Tulip, explained: “The purchase of the facility by QPL is fantastic news for the whole of the Scottish pig industry and their planned upgrade to increase the site’s capacity will mean that even more people across the UK and further afield will be able to enjoy quality Scottish pork.” –
QPL said the initiative was supported by the Scottish Government: “The Scottish government has been very supportive of this initiative and I am confident that by working closely with Quality Meat Scotland, Scottish Pig Producers, Scotlean and Tulip we can help secure the future of the Scottish pig industry.”
Dragon’s Den star Alf Turner has launched a new spiced sausage, Dragon’s Fury, which will be launched into 200 Asda stores.
After securing investment from Dragon Peter Jones, Alf Turner launched the Dragon’s Egg scotch egg and it’s Hair of the Hog and Best of British sausages into Sainsbury’s stores earlier this year.
Produced by retail pork supplier Tulip, the Dragon’s Fury sausage will contain the same meat as the Dragon’s Egg.
Simon Harrington, senior brand and licencing manager at Tulip, said: “Tulip has supported Paul in launching the Dragon’s Egg, Best of British, Hair of the Hog and now the Dragon’s Fury sausages, which are manufactured at our Bromborough and Ruskington sites.
“We are really starting to see momentum building with the Alf Turner brand. These are premium products, which certainly have a place in the market, and I am confident we will see them on more and more supermarket shelves in the months ahead.”
The Dragon’s Fury range will be retailed at £2.50 per pack, with 2p per pack donated to the Help for Heroes charity.
Ostrich meat is starting to appear on UK supermarket shelves, with Tesco trialling ostrich kebabs, and Lidl and Aldi due to stock the speciality meat later in the year.
Meat Trades Journal’s sister publication The Grocer revealed that Tesco is trialling free-range South African ostrich kebabs in 400 stores and offering 300g packs of four Mossel Bay ostrich kebabs for £5. It also reported that Aldi will be selling ostrich kebabs in September, with Lidl planning to roll out the exotic meat at Christmas.
Tesco’s kebabs are supplied by db foods, a Dorset wholesaler, which supplies a varied selection of meat products, including a diverse game selection. The wholesaler already supplies a large number of butchers with ostrich and the kebabs are available in Whole Food Markets.