The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Slimmers convinced by lean mince
Larbert butcher Malcolm Allan has won a £500,000 contract from Asda to launch its new Scottish Slimmers endorsed extra lean mince in 57 stores across Scotland.
It follows the success of lorne sausage and steak burger lines also endorsed by Scottish Slimmers.
The new contract sees the wholesale butcher increasing its range of healthier products.
The move is in response to the Scottish Government-backed campaign to lower public consumption of saturated fats and salt as well as changing consumer demands.
The extra lean steak mince is made from Scottish beef, and is to be launched in Asda stores this month.
The butcher sells more than five tonnes of mince in Asda stores every week, and it sold about 700,000 Slimmers’ burgers last year.
Staking the burgers would reach nearly 8,000 times the height of Glasgow City Chambers.
Director Gordon Allan said: “We have a responsibility to offer alternative, healthier products. We have made a real effort as a firm to try to be innovative.
“We started with a healthier burger three years ago, and this is now our best-selling burger line, so we’re hoping for the same success with the new steak mince.
“We also make 62 % of all the lorne sausage sold in Scotland, and have spent some time developing this product so it is a healthier option but still eats like a traditional lorne sausage.”
Brian O’Shea, Asda’s regional buying manager for Scotland, said: “Malcolm Allan produces products that are premium quality and this new extra lean mince endorsed by Scottish Slimmers helps meet the gap in the market for healthier Scottish ranges and ready meals.
“Feedback from everyone who has tried the new line has been incredibly positive so we look forward to working with the businesses closely and hopefully increasing the range of products available in–store in due course.”
Malcolm Allan is also celebrating after the Scottish Government announced the butcher is to receive a £400,000 grant for a new bakery.