The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
Meat firm takes different route to find business
Sales: Company switches focus to internet orders
A Linlithgow food service operator is the latest to switch to selling direct to consumers after its regular outlets dried up.
Campbells Prime Meats is still making deliveries to the NHS, hub schools and social care settings but its core business was delivering to high-end restaurants, and that has come to an abrupt end.
Since turning to focus on internet sales, the company has seen a growth of more than 400% in orders, which they deliver using a fleet of 60 vans. They are also using couriers to deliver across the UK.
Campbells operations director Iain Brown said the company had a responsibility to provide a service to as many people as possible.
“We are deeply saddened for our regular clients as so many of their businesses have been forced to close due to the impact of coronavirus and we hope they will be able to fully recover from these testing times soon,” he said.
“That said, we must also adapt ourselves as a business so we can continue to provide as many people as possible with the reassurance we can support them.”
Campbells has skilled butchers on site and uses beef, lamb and pork, all produced on Scottish farms and assured by Quality Meat Scotland (QMS).
The firm says staff are adhering to extra hygiene measures set out by government to help minimise spread of Covid-19, and contactless deliveries are being used.
QMS marketing director Lesley Cameron said: “It’s fantastic to see Campbells quickly adjusting to challenges presented by Covid-19 and committing to assisting the public during such a worrying time.
“Their delivery service means customers can easily receive high quality Scotch beef PGI, Scotch lamb PGI and specially selected pork from a trusted, large-scale food service operator – providing people with the peace of mind that is so important in these times.”
Orders have now been limited to 700 per day to help cope with supply and demand.