Farming: Tulip's blooming good pig deal for Scots

In A move welcomed by Scottish pig producers, Tulip, the UK's largest producer of pork and bacon products, yesterday confirmed it had entered into a long term contract for the slaughtering of pigs from Scottish-based firm A P Jess.

The deal will also see the re-opening of their abattoir in Brechin and a number of jobs will be created to deal with the initial weekly consignment of around 1,000 pigs.

Scottish Pig Producers' managing director Gordon McKen welcomed the new partnership agreement: "This is very welcome news indeed for Scottish pig producers across the region. It couldn't come at a better time, given the current challenges faced by the pig industry."

Ian Paragreen, managing director of Scotlean, was also delighted by the announcement: "The deal is fantastic news that I am sure will have long term benefits for the Scottish pig industry and it will further strengthen our relationship with Tulip."

Jim McLaren, chairman of Quality Meat Scotland, described the deal as "another promising sign for the Scottish pig industry which has a great deal to be proud of including the world-leading quality assurance and welfare."

Currently, Dutch-owned Tulip, who are the main pigmeat suppliers to the largest UK supermarkets, process their pigs at a plant in Manchester but the deal agreed this week will allow the pork to be labelled "Specially Selected Pork Approved by the Scottish SPCA" - the UK's first farm assurance and food labeling scheme independently approved by an animal welfare charity.

Tulip's agriculture director Andrew Saunders described the new supply agreement as "very good news for Tulip, AP Jess and the Scottish pig industry in general".

He added: "We have been very impressed by AP Jess's approach and are looking forward to working in partnership with the business over the coming months and years in a deal that will come as a welcome boost to the Scottish pig meat industry."

AP Jess's managing director Alan Jess described the deal as "very good news for the local economy as it will lead to the creation of around 30 much needed jobs".

He concluded: "We are very excited about this opportunity to work with a business on the scale of Tulip and believe the conclusion of the agreement is true testament to the quality of Scottish pig meat and the fantastic service levels that our Brechin abattoir can deliver."