Douglas Alexander MP has welcomed the London launch of John Gilmour Butchers’ Scotch Beef brands, which was hosted by Secretary of State for Scotland, Ian Murray MP at the Scotland Office.

The award-winning East Lothian-based butchers is already a highly successful and well renowned producer with significant expansion plans at its new butchery and retail facility at Wallyford.

This launch event announced the expansion of the business into the London foodservice and hospitality market, bringing the best of Scotch Beef, Scotch Lamb, and Specially Selected Pork. It took place at Dover House, was supported by Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) whose CEO Sarah Millar was also a guest speaker, and brought together close to 100 key figures from the culinary, hospitality and political sectors, including other Scottish MPs.

As well as guests being treated to a masterclass in quality assured Scotch Beef butchery and dishes provided by John Gilmour Butchers, there was also a presentation on the Scotch Beef Club and the benefits of becoming a member.

Mr Alexander, who had the opportunity to visit Gilmour Butchers at its current location in Macmerry during the election campaign, attended the launch to show his support for the business and Scotland’s wider meat industry.

Commenting afterwards, Dan Gilmour, Owner from Gilmour Butchers said:

“We are incredibly proud to have introduced the Gilmour brand to the London market and to have celebrated with such an esteemed audience. This event has been a wonderful opportunity to demonstrate the quality, craftsmanship and dedication behind our products, and we look forward to continuing to deliver excellence to our customers.

“The launch has helped highlight Gilmour Butchers as a leader in the Scotch Beef and red meat markets, and the event was a testament to our commitment to bringing Scotland’s finest beef to the forefront of the high-end, London foodservice industry. We would also like to thank Douglas Alexander for his ongoing support.”

Douglas Alexander MP said:

“I was very pleased to attend this prestigious London launch event for Gilmour Butchers and show my support for them. They have been a fixture in East Lothian and Scotland since 1946 and it’s great to see them expanding into the London market with the help of Quality Meat Scotland.

“They are an important, high-profile and hugely successful business and employer with exciting future expansion plans that will bring benefits for East Lothian’s economy and local jobs. I look forward to following and supporting their exciting development plans.”

Sarah Millar, CEO of QMS, said:

“There is significant opportunity and capacity to position our premium, world-renowned Scottish red meat brands in London, which has some of the top restaurants and hospitality services in not only in the UK but across the globe. We encourage our members to confidently explore this vast market landscape and it’s fantastic to be here supporting this latest initiative from Gilmour Butchers as an example for this. The turn out at this event is testament to the appetite for the very best of Scotch meat across our border.”