£1m investment by food supplier

A FOOD supplier is investing more than £1 million in its Dundee facilities after launching a new line of exotic meats for supermarkets.

Highland Game, based at Dryburgh Industrial Estate, is importing specialty meats from around the globe as part of its new Outlanddish range.

The brand launched in October and Tesco, Morrisons and Aldi Scotland are all now stocking the range, which includes ostrich burgers and steaks sourced in South Africa, Iberico pork products from southern Spain and Wagyu beef from Australia.

A number of international supermarket operators have also signed up.

However, the launch of the brand placed further pressure on the company’s Dundee facilities and led to group chief executive Christian Nissen signing off on a sevenfigure investment. The cash is being used to increase butchery and processing space and comes in addition to previous investment to improve office and administration facilities.

Mr Nissen said when he bought the Highland Game business it processed a few thousand animals a year.

The growth in the group’s specialty venison business has seen that figure rise to more than 50,000 animals per year and the Outlanddish business is adding further strain on the system.

Mr Nissen said it was the “right time” to invest. “It is our 20th anniversary as I bought the business on December 27 1997,” he said.

He said he had personally visited every supplier i n order, to ensure they met his firms exacting standards.