Meat firm gains award for international trade

IN A first for the meat processing industry in Scotland, JW Galloway Ltd has received a Queen's Award for Enterprise in the International Trade category.

Better known through their Bridge of Allan-based Scotbeef and Dornoch-based Vivers Scotlamb operations, the company with a 189 million turnover delivered a remarkable 40 per cent increase in export sales of Scotch Beef and Scotch Lamb last year.

This increase in exports consolidated a threefold increase achieved over the past three years. This brings the company's exports up to over 20 per cent of total sales and reinforces its position as by far the largest exporter of Scotch Beef and Lamb.

Ian J Galloway CBE, third generation of the family who own and manage the company and current chairman, said he was delighted the hard work of the company's staff and suppliers had been recognised.

He attributed the success of the company, which employs 659, to three main factors; the excellent relationship the company has with farmer producers, the commitment of the staff, together with the efficiencies achieved through continued investment in equipment, facilities, technology and innovation.

"The company now exports to nine markets and, while much of the growth has resulted from new markets and customers, the strength and growth of our longer-term customers remains extremely significant and indicates a continuing satisfaction with the product and service they are receiving," he said.

"In France, our largest market, the Macquet family business and the Savinor Company with whom we have been trading for 48 and 35 years respectively, are our largest customers and are both still growing.

"Likewise in Italy, another large market, the Marca Company with whom we have been trading for over 20 years remains the largest and is again still growing."