Tribute:  Jimmy Stoddart

Jimmy Stoddart was one of the pioneers of Scotland’s lamb export trade with France and his recent passing brought back memories of our industry’s links with a time of great foresight and ambition. Realising the vast potential of the French market in the late 1960s, Jimmy successfully established contact with some of the leading meat traders in Paris, ensuring that Scotch Lamb started appearing on many of the city’s top restaurant menus. He also had a part in the setting up of the National Association of Wholesale Meat Salesmen in Scotland, a fore-runner of SAMW.  A pioneer indeed, paving the way for an export trade which has grown and changed beyond all recognition from the day his first consignment of lambs left Edinburgh for Paris more than 50 years ago.