British butcher in Dubai plans meat-free bangers

What started out as a butcher making high-end sausages to sell online has rapidly grown into a well-loved, up-and-coming Dubai cottage industry.

Irn-Bru sausages, haggis or black pudding may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but the range of 18 specialist pork products sold by the British Butcher Shop in Mudon are going down a storm.

Three years since opening, former supermarket boss Mike Barker is bringing his first plant-based range of burgers and bangers to the UAE.

The Plant-B range will land in Dubai next month – with a UAE production centre for meat alternatives also planned.

“I looked at plant-based recipes and thought we could change the arena for these foods as we have done with pork,” said Mr Barker, a father of two who has lived in the UAE for 24 years.

“There is a market, it is growing and I want to be one of the first to do it here with Plant-B.

“We already make an IrnBru sausage, a Cumberland black-pudding sausage and a haggis sausage using spices from Glasgow.

“I’m confident I can carry that innovation forward to the halal side of the business and meat alternatives.

“We want to have a go at making our own meat-free bacon from scratch, but I will only sell it if it is any good.”

The Plant-B range will include a breakfast sausage, Cumberland sausage, an apple and sage sausage, meatballs and a burger.

They are primarily made from mushrooms, rapeseed oil, water, herbs, spices and breadcrumbs.

Demand for meat alternatives is on the rise, owing to health concerns about processed meats high in cholesterol and saturated fats, which can cause heart disease, and carcinogens.

Environmental concerns and animal welfare are other factors behind more people turning to plant-based products.

The British Butcher Shop now has three stores, employing 22 people, with three more to open this year, including a delicatessen in The Meadows.

“I took a lot of persuading to launch plant-based sausages, but I’m passionate about this now,” Mr Barker said.