New group acquires two longstanding Scottish food businesses

Following the retirement of its owners Malcolm Allan was fully acquired, while the group made a controlling investment in Macsween of Edinburgh.

Malcom Allan is a manufacturer of Scottish meat products, supplying the retail sector with a range of items including Lorne sausage, steak pies, sausages, black pudding, burgers, as well as other traditional butcher meat lines.

Meanwhile, Macsween of Edinburgh is a traditional haggis and black pudding manufacturer with a range that also includes vegetarian options.

Both are longstanding family-owned businesses and the Macallan Food Group has committed to retaining their respective heritages.

Headed up by retail industry veterans Bill Hazeldean and Stewart McLelland, the group is a new venture focused on “long-term investments”.​ They will now be joined on the board by James Macsween, managing director of Macsween of Edinburgh.

Both businesses will be run as separate entities moving forward and retain their individual identities.

Commenting on the moves, Hazeldean said: “Acquiring the Malcolm Allan business, alongside our investment in Macsween of Edinburgh, brings together two excellent businesses, both having product quality and customer service as their key priorities and core values. Macallan Food Group is backed by a family trust, that makes long term investments, so the fundamental ethos of the business will not change. ​

“It will be business as usual in the coming months as we implement our 200-day plan, and develop our strategy for the future.”​

Macsween added: “The Macsween family are delighted that the business is part of an ambitious new venture which will enable us to fulfil our strategic growth plans in the future. Both businesses have strong brands in particular sectors of the meat category, and we look forward to working together with the Malcolm Allan team.”​

Finally, the retiring Gordon Allan said: “Malcolm Allan has been our family business since it was formed by our father in 1954. Having decided to retire, my brother and I wanted to ensure that the new owners would maintain the values, ethos and reputation of our family business after our departure. In particular, we want to look after our customers who have enabled us to build our business, and also maintain employment for our employees, many of them having been with us for a very long time. We believe the new owners will maintain our values, and we are confident that we are leaving the business in safe hands. We will help in the handover process to ensure a smooth transition”.​

In other news, McCain Foods GB has issued an immediate recall notice for nine non-compliant products.​​