T. 07768 654955 E. scott.walker@scconsultancy.uk
“As an Association we deplore any fraudulent practices in our industry,” said SAMW President, Ian Bentley. “Events like these (NFCU investigation) bring the industry into disrepute and disadvantage the vast majority of honest operators who are grappling with the financial pressures of doing business today. These instances also undermine our efforts to reduce costly and inefficient regulatory measures in our businesses.”
Five former presidents marked the 30-year anniversary of the birth of the Scottish Association of Meat Wholesalers (SAMW) with a walk down memory lane at the 2023 New Year Lunch in Edinburgh.
The pre-lunch programme opened with a heartfelt and fitting tribute to Martin Morgan, the Association’s Executive Manager for the past five years who sadly died in the days leading up to the NYL. Delivered by close friend and colleague, Ian Anderson, the tribute was welcomed by Association members and industry guests as a special opportunity to acknowledge Martin’s diligent commitment to SAMW and members’ interest throughout his time in office.
Tribute was also paid to Doug Ward, a firm supporter of SAMW over many years and a close friend to many in the Association, who died in early January.
Presidential memories from 1989-2022
Former presidents at NYL 2023: (l-r) Jimmy Robertson, Alan McNaughton, Neil Stoddart, Allan Jess, Alan Craig, and 2023 President, Ian Bentley.
Jimmy Robertson, 1987/89, led the meeting in a look back at SAMW’s earlier days, reflecting on the beginnings of the Meat & Livestock Commission, the loss of local authority meat inspectors “who knew what they were doing” to a centrally controlled system which was “forced on the trade in a desire to be European Citizens”.
Neil Stoddart, 2000/03, took up the story with tails of working visits to Brussels, often with little reward for the industry; the start of Scottish devolution; the birth of Quality Meat Scotland, and the deeply unpleasant task of dealing with the UK’s Foot and Mouth Outbreak in 2001.
Allan Jess, 2006/09 & 2016/17, focused his comments on the vital importance over the years of SAMW’s Executive Managers, Alan Stevenson, Alistair Donaldson, Ian Anderson, and Martin Morgan. He also highlighted the camaraderie which has always existed across the SAMW membership and the commitment of many individuals who have given their time and energy to protect and develop the Scottish red meat industry throughout its history.
Alan Craig, 2009/12, spoke about the emergence of the single farm payment during his presidency and the Association’s anxiety that this would lead to a massive reduction in livestock numbers. He also dealt with the development of the Sheep Strategy Council and, as a little light relief, enjoyed revising a few sponsors’ descriptions from annual dinner speeches of the time.
Alan McNaughton, 2016/16 & 2021/22, concluded the memories session, with mention of the formation of Food Standards Scotland; debates surrounding WATOK (animal welfare); concerns of livestock supplies and the need to keep hitting the ‘in-spec’ livestock message to help reduce the number of very-fat/too heavy animals arriving at meat plants most mornings of the week.
The following former presidents were also present at the 2023 NYL:
Alan Kirkwood, 1997/2000
Isla Roebuck, 2003/06
Frank Clark, 2017/19
Andy McGowan, 2019/21
Ian Bentley, 2022 –
Teamwork at NYL 2023: (l-r) Alistair Donaldson, Andy McGowan, Allan Jess, Jimmy Robertson, Alan McNaughton, Isla Roebuck, Frank Clark, Alan Kirkwood, Neil Stoddart, Alan Craig, Ian Bentley, and Ian Anderson
By Ian Anderson
I first worked with Martin in the 1980s when he arrived for interview to become a Higher Executive Officer within the Scottish Office Meat Hygiene branch. I knew immediately that Martin possessed all the required skills for the role. He also came over as a good guy, an impression which never changed over the subsequent 40 or so years.
Among our responsibilities at the time was hygiene controls in Scotland’s meat plants. This was when the EU single market was just over the horizon, a process which grew into the introduction of the UK adopting common European rules into our meat systems in 1992. That required new plant approvals, health marks, official documents, and all that. It was very technical stuff, but Martin mastered it in no time, helping many members of the Scottish Association of Meat Wholesalers (SAMW), which he later worked with, to implement the new requirements.
In wasn’t long, of course, before we found ourselves embroiled in BSE. Again, Martin demonstrated his mastery of the regulatory controls in his own low key, unflappable manner. Before long he became something of an expert on SRM (specified risk materials) controls and how product separation could be achieved at plant level without production grinding to a halt.
The day when, a few years later, Scotland secured EU approval to once again be allowed to resume beef exports, was a good one for Martin and for the industry at large. It was a fitting reward for the spadework Martin did on meat hygiene and BSE controls.
It seemed at times, however, that perhaps Martin should have been a fireman instead of a civil servant. Working in meat hygiene, after all, was often a case of dealing with one firefight after another. Having just got rid of BSE, for example, we found ourselves confronted by the UK-wide Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) outbreak. I was promptly sent to Dumfries as Operations Director for FMD in Scotland, with Martin staying in Edinburgh to run the hygiene division in my absence. I never had a moment’s concern about that, knowing that Martin would ‘mind the shop’ every bit as well as I could.
Martin subsequently followed me into SAMW when I stood down in 2017 and I could not have wished for anyone better to carry on that work. His record as the Association’s Executive Manager truly confirmed that. He was calm in the face of adversity and never allowed any surrounding chaos or difficulty to distract him from the objectives of representing the interests of Scotland’s red meat processors. This remained true throughout the hugely pressured period of keeping plants operating in the face of all the COVID-19 lockdowns.
He will be missed by all of us in the Scottish red meat industry, so much so that I can say without any hesitation that we have lost a great, loyal, true friend and colleague, whose love of our industry was up there with the very best.
By Alistair Donaldson
Doug arrived in Scotland in the mid ‘90s and very quickly became a stalwart of the Scottish meat industry. Although there was always some inevitable arm wrestling with meat plants over by-product pricing, he was a staunch supporter.
Born a Cockney, Doug’s early career was as a poultry delivery driver at Smithfield. His move to Scotland was as MD of the Hillsdown-owned Forrest rendering plant and he played a key role in the ’96 BSE catastrophe. With other partners, he bought out the company and went on to set up Argent Energy to produce biodiesel from Forrest tallow and other oils.
Doug made a huge contribution to the rendering industry during BSE and FMD including tackling TSE Reg issues. He also served as President of the UK, EU and World Renderers Associations, as well as EBB, and was awarded a CBE. For his involvement in biofuel developments at Napier he received an Honorary Doctorate and was chuffed to call himself Dr Ward. He went on to Chair Celtic Renewables, an offshoot company.
In retirement many friendships grew stronger not least through enjoying lunches at Butchers Hall featuring copious pre and post prandial ‘sherbets’. When Doug developed prostate cancer, which he fought so courageously, a lunch group was formed in Edinburgh, and it grew to 12 members. It meets every 2-3 months and is very sociable with much reminiscing – Doug much enjoyed them and they will continue.
It is clear from comments following his death that Doug was held in high regard and was a valued friend to many in the industry and beyond – including in the rugby world. Truly a man o’ pairts he made an enormous contribution and will be missed.
Our thoughts are with Jackie at this time.
It is with great sadness that we have to announce that Martin Morgan, Executive Manager of the Scottish Association of Meat Wholesalers (SAMW) has died after a prolonged battle against cancer.
Martin Morgan
Martin, who joined the Association in November 2017, will be greatly missed by SAMW’s Executive Committee, with whom he worked closely until a few weeks ago, and all the Association’s members. A former head of livestock policy for the Scottish Government, Martin started at the Scottish Office in 1977, beginning a career which included working on industry-changing meat hygiene legislation in 1992 and the BSE crisis from 1996 onwards. He was also a major part of the Scottish Office team involved in handling the UK’s foot and mouth outbreaks in 2001 & 2007.
“Martin worked tirelessly on behalf of the Association and the whole Scottish red meat sector during his five years as our Executive Manager,” said SAMW President, Ian Bentley. “He was always ready to address any issues which might impact our industry, attend countless Government and business meetings to represent the Scottish red meat sector, and serve the membership in whatever way he could. We will all miss him greatly.”
Ian Anderson, who Martin followed as Executive Manager, added: “Martin was a top rate colleague throughout our time together in the Scottish Office and an SAMW successor who I was delighted to have follow me in this role. In both incarnations, there was little Martin didn’t know about livestock farming and the food industry.
“He was also a great friend and staunch supporter, who brought so many admirable qualities to whatever he did, both as a person and in business.”
SAMW’s Executive team and members express their sadness and deep condolence to Martin’s wife Jacki and his family.
Dawn Meats, parent owners of SAMW member company Dunbia, has announced a substantial new plan which will see the business target Net Zero operational emissions by 2040, while working towards a Net Zero supply chain as soon as possible.
An initial £90m investment across four key areas: environment, farming, food and society will support the delivery of these Net Zero targets. This approach takes account of the entire supply chain across Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions while also aligning to the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Mairi Gougeon MSP Scottish Cabinet Secretary for Rural Economy and Tourism and Niall Browne CEO Dawn Meats & Dunbia, at Sial Paris trade show in October 2022.
The 2040 Net Zero commitment will be structured with a supporting near-term goal. By 2030 Dawn Meats is aiming to reduce Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 59%, through investment in new technology to transform plant infrastructure, transport, thermal energy generation and refrigeration systems,
The Scope 3 supply chain target ambition will be increased to align with 1.5°C, placing the company on a net zero trajectory. Ongoing supplier engagement to reduce emissions and improve farm efficiencies will continue via innovative farming projects and knowledge sharing events. The company will continue to enhance production efficiencies, improve carcase utilisation and derive greater value from their livestock products, which will further reduce emissions intensity.
Other targets include ensuring 100% of their plastic packaging is reusable, recyclable or compostable and sourcing 100% of their cattle and sheep from Bord Bia assured farms in Ireland, and Red Tractor assured farms in the United Kingdom.
Niall Browne, CEO of Dawn Meats and Dunbia, said: “Addressing climate change is one of the key challenges of our time. Dawn Meats has an opportunity to continue to positively impact the supply chain as well as our communities and environment, and a commitment to achieving net zero operational emissions by 2040 is a goal which is the culmination of significant progress to date.”
Celebrating the completion of five years as SAMW’s Executive Manager, Martin Morgan, has been looking back at what has happened since 2017, while also pondering what the future holds for Scotland’s red meat industry.
Brexit, Covid-19, and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine are the key events on the UK, European and global stage which have dominated my five years with SAMW. Each one has resulted in a stream of implications for member businesses and challenges for the Association President of the day and the Executive Council to address.
Martin Morgan
Brexit was already well into its second year of ‘implementation’ by November 2017, having been voted for in June 2016. The fact that it took until December 31, 2020, until the UK finally left the EU single market and customs union inevitably meant members facing a long period of regulatory change and uncertainty.
The biggest ongoing challenge post-Exit for many businesses has involved maintaining staffing levels, an issue which still persists today. Those with strong export operations have also had to battle against new border import controls in Europe and extra costs, another issue which hasn’t exactly gone away. Demand for, and loyalty to, the Scotch brand remains strong, however, and gives me cause for optimism for the future.
Covid-19 and the introduction of social distancing and the 2-metre rule, which was obviously devastating at a personal level for us all, also added a new degree of business management demands which we could never have imagined facing. It is a huge tribute to our industry that the disruption to normal delivery processes was kept to an absolute minimum throughout this time although some businesses suffered greatly from the lockdown rules which pretty much closed down the hospitality food service sectors for a prolonged period.
Russia’s attack on Ukraine back in February obviously had a devastating effect on the people directly involved, leading to great disruption across the global food supply chain. As this conflict continues, the impact on industry costs has further tightening member company margins and created a bout of food price inflation and political turmoil not seen for decades.
Throughout the past 5 years the Association has endeavoured to work closely with the UK and Scottish Governments and their officials on all these issues, often securing good outcomes for the processing sector, while also often being left deeply frustrated by the attitudes and intransigence we encountered. Its part and parcel of this job that you win some arguments and lose others. In a few cases, however, it is impossible not to conclude that certain organisations, public and private, are simply being difficult because they can. Sadly, the ‘computer says no’ syndrome is still with us today.
On the plus side, we have built up our day-to-day working relationship and interaction with BMPA, which has been a real positive. I am sure this will continue to pay dividends for our respective members going forward.
Looking to the future, I’m encouraged by the level of commitment and determination shown by members in pursuing domestic and export markets, as they continue to supply top quality Scotch beef, lamb and pork to their global customers.
If my fairy godmother granted me 3 wishes today that would benefit the meat sector, I would ask for Covid-19 to become less of a constant health concern, for peace to return to Ukraine and for the Scottish Government to stop dithering and get in place a new support regime that re-reenergises livestock production. Even if all that happens, however, I’m sure there will be plenty for SAMW’s President, its Council and the Executive Manager to address as 2023 unfolds.
Finally, on a personal note, can I record my deep appreciation of the support I have received from members in dealing with my own health issues.
SAMW joins all-industry bodies in agriculture policy demand
The recently-established Food & Agriculture Stakeholders’ Taskforce (FAST) has challenged the Scottish Government to take urgent steps to include the farming industry in the co-design of future agriculture policy.
During a seminar at AgriScot (November 16), FAST representative, Doug Bell, called on Mairi Gougeon, Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and Islands, to clarify her co-design plans, ahead of the closing of the Agriculture Bill consultation early next month.
Mr Bell, Managing Director of the Scottish Tenant Farmers Association, was speaking on behalf of FAST, an independent group of 19 organisations which represent agriculture and food production in Scotland.
Mr Bell said: “FAST is a dynamic taskforce of people with experience, grass-roots knowledge and an ardent drive to protect and promote Scotland’s agricultural and food production into the future.
“As a collective we want to work constructively with Scottish Government as it sets Scotland’s future agricultural policy. Ministers continue to propose that it is essential that the industry is central to the co-design and co-development process.
“It is now a critical time to get the policy right and we are keen to ensure FAST is part of that co-design process. It is vital to avoid the impact of an Agriculture Bill and secondary legislation which generates unintended consequences for the industry and the country.”
FAST is comprised of senior representatives of Scotland’s key organisations in farming, crofting and primary food production. The group was formed to constructively move forward the dialogue in response to an evident lack of vision, dialogue and detail being seen in the run up to and during the consultation on the new Agriculture Bill, which closes on 5th December.
Mr Bell added: “The members of each of our organisations – from livestock producers to arable growers and crofters – desperately need to understand where policy is going.
“We need to know what Scottish Government plans to do with the powers granted by the consultation, what this will mean at grassroots level and how farmers, crofters and others in the supply chain can work effectively to secure the future of their businesses. FAST is willing and keen to work with Scottish Government to ensure this is clearly defined.”
FAST will be inviting the Cabinet Secretary to meet with the group as soon as possible.
The purpose of this meeting will be to share its insights and vision for the most productive direction for policy that advances food security, food production, the environment and the country’s agricultural supply chain, as well as the industry’s significant contribution to the Scottish economy and rural communities across Scotland.
FAST members:
Three major European red meat importers have been formally recognised for their loyalty and commitment to the Scottish red meat industry.
Scotch Beef PGI importers Lesage & Fils from France and Nice to Meat from the Netherlands received awards from QMS Chief Executive, Sarah Millar and Chair, Kate Rowell, during a reception on the QMS stand in SIAL Paris, one of the world’s most influential food fairs. French-based Scotch Beef and Scotch Lamb GI importers, Macquet, were also acknowledged for their longstanding support for Scotch.
Lesage & Fils + Dunbia Highland Meats
Family business Lesage & Fils has been purchasing Scotch Beef from Dunbia Highland Meats for almost a decade, supplying approximately 1200 professional customers in France, Europe and across the world with their speciality, Scotch Angus, amongst other products.
(L-R) – QMS Chief Executive Sarah Millar, Cabinet Secretary Mairi Gougeon and representative from Lesage and Fils
Buyers at Lesage & Fils praised Scotch for its consistency, tenderness and appropriate fat cover that appeals to their markets.
“We are proud of the long-standing partnership we have built with Lesage & Fils and are delighted to see them recognised for their loyalty and commitment to championing Scotch Beef,” said Niall Brennan, UK Sales Director (Primary) at Dunbia. “Partnering with high calibre importers who promote the quality and add value to the Scotch brands is at the core of our industry’s success and we look forward to seeing continued demand for Scotch Beef over the coming years.”
Nice To Meat + AK Stoddart
Representatives from Nice to Meat
Also receiving the Scotch Beef Distributor of the Year accolade, Nice To Meat has been working closely with Broxburn-based AK Stoddart since 2019, with sales growing 180% year-on-year, and this trajectory is set to continue.
Commenting on the relationship, Grant Moir, Managing Director of AK Stoddart said: “We are delighted that Nice To Meat has been recognised by QMS for their commitment to Scotch Beef PGI. Passionate about the values that align so closely with our own in terms of quality, traceability and sustainable rearing, we look forward to working together as we continue to serve our global markets.”
Macquet + Scotbeef
Working with Scotbeef for over 50 years, Macquet supplies Scotch Lamb and Scotch Beef to the retail and food service sectors in France, marketing Scotch as quality products and positioning them in a premium range.
Representatives from Macquet
Simon Dowling, Director, from Scotbeef said: “Despite Brexit, the pandemic and other market challenges, Macquet has continued to build trade with us over the decades. And aside from our consistent trading relationship, they have been an avid supporter of one of Scotland’s largest agricultural events, the Scottish Premier Meat Exhibition, for the past 30 years, sponsoring the best export lamb.
“As such strong advocates for Scottish red meat, we were thrilled to see the Macquet Family recognised by QMS at SIAL.”
During the event, Ms Rowell took the opportunity to highlight the importance of international trade and reinforce the credentials of the Scotch brands:
“Scotland is now, and shall continue to be, open for business,” she said. “We are committed to strengthening our much-valued relationships with overseas customers, who acknowledge and embrace the high standards and quality beef and lamb reared by Scottish farmers. With our abundance of natural grazing land, over supply of fresh water and world class animal welfare, Scotland is the perfect place to produce natural red meat products.”
T: 07768 654955 E: scott.walker@scconsultancy.uk
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