Scottish Grocer: Scottish Brands 2018 by Peebles Media Group

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Scottish brands 2018

Exciting times ahead LOOKING back, 2018 has once again been a year of dynamic change in the environment in which Scottish food companies operate. Inflation has driven market growth and an unusually hot summer boosted spend as shoppers visited stores more often, driving growth in soft drinks and ice cream. Meanwhile, household incomes remain under pressure and shoppers are carefully managing their grocery spend, putting ever more pressure on brands to remain relevant. In terms of retail structure, consumers have continued to switch their spend to the discounters, with inevitable impact on the mainstream retailers. Online shopping has continued to grow – taking £221m from bricks and mortar supermarkets in the last year. That said, in Scotland we do less online shopping than the rest of Britain. Across the country, promotions have continued to decline for the fourth year in a row; 33% of all products are now sold on some sort of promotional deal compared with 38% back in 2015. As the Scottish Government looks to legislate further to curb the rise of obesity, for some categories the focus for both retailers and brands will be on increasing growth through full price sales. The focus for the retailers over the past 12 months has been on leveraging their own label ranges to differentiate themselves from rivals, and to give them more control over costs. In Tesco, we have seen the opening of Jacks – its own take on discount retailing - emphasising just how serious a challenge the discounters pose. Looking ahead, the merger of

Asda and Sainsbury’s, subject to CMA approval, threatens a seismic shake up of the retail landscape. While Scottish consumers have always been loyal to their favourite food and drink brands, own label is on the rise. Private label’s share of spend has continued to increase over the last four years and currently sits at 48% compared with 44% in 2014. In Britain, own label accounts for 53% of grocery spend, and with most retailers seeing growth from their premium and standard tiers and it would appear that Scotland is following this trend.

Irn Bru, Graham’s the Family Dairy and Malcolm Allan still dominating the top spots. Irn Bru has deftly navigated the soft drinks levy with the success of Irn Bru Xtra, whilst Graham’s has widened its portfolio with a range of high protein products that meet consumers’ increasing preference for healthier choices. Malcolm Allan features twice on the chart, with its core brand and also the Scottish Slimmers range it produces. The other new entry is Strathmore’s Scottish Favourites brand which appears for the first time. Similar to Malcolm Allan, this brand is part of

Lesley Ann’s overview LESLEY Ann Gray, strategic lead for Scotland at market research company Kantar Worldpanel – which provides the listing of the top 50 Scottish non-alcohol brands in Scotland and the Top 25 Scottish alcohol brands in Scotland – analyses the year for the leading Scottish brands in Scottish food and drink retailing.

This poses a quandary to manufacturers considering where their focus should be for future success. It is interesting to note that the discounters have seen success as a result of giving space to more branded lines, complicating the question further. For the brands that appear on these lists, and have done so for many years, it is seen as a rite of passage as a brand grows in popularity and value with the top spots hotly contested. There has been no change in the top three positions with

the McIntosh family showing the benefit of having several brands meeting different consumer occasions or needs. Eighteen brands have moved up the ranking since last year, and it’s the meat processors that are achieving the fastest growth, with Halls, We Hae Meat and Calder Millerfield showing the biggest gains. At Kantar Worldpanel our theme for 2018 has been finding new shoppers. Our client events throughout the year have looked to demonstrate why it is important to continue to seek new shoppers for your

brands. Half of your shoppers this year will not buy your brand next year and your customers are likely also to buy from your competitors. Finding new shoppers requires a deeper understanding of the market and consumer behaviour, and our work with clients this year has uncovered how important it is to increase your presence across all channels, and to boost your relevance by understanding how your products are consumed. The impact of the rising health trend, harnessing the power of consumer experiences, and the rules of successful NPD have also been hot topics throughout the year. As to which brands will appear on next year’s list, it is safe to say that they will earn their place through building penetration through trade investment, using the opportunity to broaden their ranges through NPD and distribution, and by supporting long term physical and mental availability through a multi-channel marketing campaign. Looking ahead to 2019, Brexit will start to have an impact on the domestic and export markets. Health will continue to gather momentum, driven by both consumer behaviour and government interventions looking to improve the nutritional value and quality of the nation’s diets. The year started and will end with heightened consumer awareness around plastics and their environmental impact, and this will continue to influence behaviour. The discounters look set to increase their market share, whilst the retailers do all they can to differentiate with their own label ranges. An exciting time awaits.

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Top 50 Scottish take-home food and drink brands in Scotland – excluding alcohol Brand

Rank 2018

Rank 2017

Irn-Bru

Graham’s the Family Dairy

Malcolm Allan

Moving Up

Rank 2018

Rank 2017

Marshalls

Mackays

Genius

McIntosh

Paterson’s

Bells Pies and Pastry

Great Scot

Baxters

Tarbet Fine Foods

Tunnock’s

Lawsons

Seriously

Mrs Tilly’s

Simon Howie

Scott’s Porage Oats

Hall’s

Calder Millerfield

Barr

Mrs Unis

Scotty Brand

Buchanan’s

Highland Spring

Big and Scottish

Albert Bartlett

Glenrath

Rowan Glen

Highland Game

Galloway

Orkney

JG Ross

Hamlyns

Wiseman

Dean’s

Scottish Blend

Macsween

Border

Lees

Mackie’s

Scottish Favourites

Mothers Pride

Scottish Slimmers

Macb

Swankies

Nairn’s

Grant’s

We Hae Meat

Stockan’s

Brand

Moving Up

Source: Kantar Worldpanel take-home sales in Scotland 52 weeks to 9 September 2018 v 52 weeks to 21 May 2017. NE = New entry. December 2018 · Scottish Grocer · 27

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Scottish brands 2018

1. Irn-Bru

In a dramatic year for the soft drinks industry, which saw the implementation of the sugar tax, a summer heatwave and a CO2 shortage, Irn-Bru stands top of the lot WHEN it comes to Scottish brands, IrnBru is still the undisputed top dog. An impressive feat for a soft drinks brand in a year of upheaval for the category in which weather, legislation and a CO2 shortage all played a role. Scotland’s top brand grabbed headlines early in 2018 with the roll out of a reformulated original Irn-Bru, bringing its sugar content below the threshold for the Soft Drinks Industry Levy which came into force in April. Despite protests from some fans of Scotland’s ‘other national drink’, brandowner AG Barr’s decision to make the change doesn’t seem to have hurt the sales — in fact the total brand’s market share has only increased. Jonathan Kemp, commercial director at AG Barr explained: “I’m delighted by the performance of Irn-Bru, we have had a very good year so far. In the first six months of the year to the end of July, Irn-Bru’s volume share of total UK carbonates was up 17% which was a really strong performance. “We’re conscious there are some people we have not won over and are very clear about their concerns around the new recipe and what has changed. “No business ever wants to be in a position where their drinkers are unhappy with them, but we still believe we’ve taken the right decision for the long-term health of Irn-Bru as a brand and that this was the right thing to do. “There are drinkers who are very happy, there are some people who think it’s a very good thing that a can of Irn-Bru now

AG Barr commercial director Jonathan Kemp (right) said he was delighted by the performance of Irn-Bru in 2018. Kemp also highlighted growth from Irn-Bru Xtra, and its appeal to younger consumers, as a real success story for Scotland’s biggest brand.

has 50 calories; for a lot of people that’s a much more positive situation than it was before.” Irn-Bru’s full sugar variant may have grabbed headlines in 2018, but Kemp was also keen to point out the success of IrnBru Xtra, which has gone from strength to strength since its launch in summer 2016. “Xtra has worked incredibly well for the total brand. A lot of drinkers have come into the brand through Irn-Bru Xtra. “It actually has a younger drinker profile, which is really encouraging. People who don’t want any calories but want a nice tasting drink — it really ticks the boxes.” It’s certainly been quite a year for Irn-

Bru, with the exceptionally cold weather at the start of the year forcing AG Barr to close its Cumbernauld plant for the first time, which Kemp said depressed sales throughout April, followed by a scorching summer which elevated the entire soft drinks category. Despite the challenges, the brand remains as solid as a girder, is still a firm favourite with Scottish shoppers, and Kemp was pleased by Irn-Bru’s performance. “It’s been an unusual year but through it all Irn-Bru has remained very strong,” he said.

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Scottish brands 2018

2. Graham’s

Following a 2017 that saw Graham’s bolster its offer with NPD across categories, the family dairy has retained its place as the second biggest brand in Scotland HAVING ascended to the number two spot in 2016, Graham’s the Family Dairy finds itself the second biggest Scottish brand for the third year in succession, testament to the continuing evolution of the business. Graham’s has come a long way from its humble beginnings in 1939, when the business consisted of 12 cows and a 112 acre farm at Bridge of Allan. Since then, Graham’s has expanded both in scale and offer, with plenty of NPD in recent years to keep customers coming back — and attract new converts. Not ones to be left behind, Graham’s has been quick to embrace the growing demand for all things protein. Following the 2017 launch of Protein 22 — a smooth and fruity quark which immediately scooped awards and snapped up store listings — Graham’s brought some Icelandic flavour to Scottish shores earlier this year with the launch of Skyr. Available in five flavours the high protein, fat-free Icelandic-style yoghurt is made with

Robert Graham (above) pops on an Icelandic-chic jumper at the launch of Graham’s Skyr. The family dairy has been active with new product development, offering Scottish consumers milk and butter staples as well as more continental options.

Scottish milk from Graham’s 100 farming partners. Speaking at the launch of Skyr, Graham’s MD Robert Graham said: “Product development is always high on our agenda. We pride ourselves on being innovative, as well as responding to the needs of our customers.

The Graham Family has been dairy farming in Scotland for three generations.

“Our Quark products have been incredibly well received and we’re glad to be launching the first Skyr produced in Scotland.” Graham’s further expanded its Protein range in November with the launch of Protein 40. Boasting 40g of protein per bottle, the new high-protein milk is currently available exclusively at Sainsbury’s throughout the UK. The focus on NPD looks set to continue for years into the future, as Graham’s also has high hopes of launching a £20m national dairy centre near Stirling that will focus on research and innovation. Planning applications are currently in the works for the proposed site, in partnership with developer Mactaggart & Mickel. Commenting on the pro-

posed development, Robert Graham said: “Increasing Scotland’s domestic processing capacity will allow us to support business, develop and sell new home-grown products, while boosting innovation and skills development and improving Scotland’s exports. “Dairy is perfectly positioned to support job creation and wellbeing programmes at a global scale. In doing so, the sector can grow Scotland’s GDP, forge career pathways and back education programmes. No strangers to accolades, Graham’s had more success in 2018, picking up a prize at the inaugural Co-op and Scotmid Supplier Awards. The dairy snapped up the New Product of the Year award for Protein 22.

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No.1 Scottish food brand. We’re wellie delighted.

And we continue to be Scotland’s no.1 dairy brand for 2018. Source: Kantar Worldpanel

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Scottish brands 2018

3. Malcolm Allan

The biggest name in square sausage, Malcolm Allan offers family butcher quality at volume SCOTTISH consumers sure do love their square sausage, and so you know Malcolm Allan must be doing a pretty good job when more than half the lorne sold in Scotland comes from the Larbert-based butcher. There’s more to Malcolm Allan than square sausage, however, as many shoppers may have found out this summer when the firm expanded its range in a bid to maintain volume during an especially warm Scottish summer. Gordon Allan, director at Malcolm Allan, told Scottish Grocer that he’s well aware that steak pies are not necessarily everyone’s go to choice for dinner when temperatures approach 30C, which is why this summer the firm looked to the barbecue grill — with impressive results. “We were busier in July this year from barbecue stuff and we’ll be expanding that range

Director Gordon Allan said Malcolm Allan enjoyed a particularly successful summer in 2018, spurred on by seasonal NPD.

next year,” said Gordon. “We did things like bratwurst and sizzlers, which really saved us. I had a meeting in July with buyers and they said it was like Christmas.” Butcher lines like the hot and spicy American Style Sizzlers and Hot & Spicy Pork Sizzlers were flying this summer ac-

cording to Gordon, a success which he reckons stems in

“We don’t sell anything that’s not good enough to take home

We’ve done a bit of NPD, but it’s the quality and consistency. People have got to trust you. Whenever there’s a food scare people come back to us. part from the Malcolm Allan’s ability to adapt at pace when the market changes. That adaptability doubtless stems from the structure of Malcolm Allan, still very much a family affair, with experts in all things butchery working right through the business from production to the executive level. Gordon said that the key to Malcolm Allan’s success has to be a combination of quality and consistency, both elements which were hammered into Gordon, and his brother James, by their father from a young age.

to our own houses, that’s what we were taught. “Yes we’ve done a bit of new product development, but it’s the quality and consistency. “People have got to trust you. Whenever there’s a food scare, people come back to us. “We started off as a family butcher with one shop, then two shops, and we kept growing. It would be nice to say we had a vision but we changed focus in the 90s because you could see change coming on the high street.” Founded in 1954, Malcolm Allan has strived to maintain

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quality down the years. One way the firm does this is by training the next generation of butchers, something which Gordon said he is proud of, and which is a key component in the future of the business. “We do our own training scheme. We work with two or three local high schools and we show the kids round, and offer work experience.” For those school kids who like what they see, there’s real opportunity at Malcolm Allan according to Gordon, as Saturday work can soon turn into skilled employment with the firm. “If you go through our training modules at the end of two years you’ll have all the core skills. If the guys are still interested in training we’ve got a boning plant too. That’s our point of difference, we still buy

our cattle from the market,” he said. “The way the business is structured, the way we work it, our factory manager has been with us since he was 16. The production manager is the next generation and he has been with us from 16 too, that’s where we get the con-

The books are already closed on Malcolm Allan Steak Pies for Christmas 2018.

sistency.” As well as quality butcher meat, one thing that remains consistent at Malcolm Allan is the firm’s strong winter business, and it looks set for another successful Christmas

and New Year period with steak pie orders already at capacity. “We’re already sold out for steak pies this New Year, up 20% on last year,” said Gordon.

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Scottish brands 2018

4. McIntosh

Storming up the charts, Strathmore Foods ready meal brand keeps Scottish shoppers coming back for more

CONVENIENCE is increasingly driving purchase decisions among time-pressed consumers, so perhaps it should come as no surprise that Strathmore Foods’ McIntosh brand has leapt up from sixth position to fourth on our top brands list — but success isn’t made from quick cook times alone. With a comprehensive range of Macaroni Cheese products, traditional Scottish fare including stovies and mince & tatties — as well as a new kids range and a first foray into premium with the launch of McIntosh Select, Hot Roast Scottish Salmon Pasta — the McIntosh brand has something for just about everyone. Neil Macrae, sales manager at McIntosh had some thoughts on why the brand has done so well with Scottish shoppers in 2018. “I think it’s probably a combination of a few different things. We’ve always had quite a loyal customer base that trusts the brand. They know it’s affordable, good quality, it ticks the convenience box, we’re told it tastes like home-made so with

Julie Nisbet of Strathmore Foods said McIntosh will continue to develop its offer with new avenues to explore within grocery.

people becoming more time precious I suppose it works for them,” he said. With McIntosh now taking up a decent chunk of chiller space in the multiples, future expansion for the brand looks like it will involve a bit of diversification, and the launch of McIntosh Kidz in October shows the team at Strathmore

has no shortage of strings on its bow, as managing director Julie Nisbet explained: “For the future, we’re looking at different categories. We’re in the pie cabinet, we’re trying out food to go with out new hot food to go pots. We’ve got a kids range which is pretty new for us, that’s a different category. “We probably wouldn’t be adding more ready meals as we’ve got quite a lot of shelf space already. So we’re thinking, if the kids range is successful, where is the next gap?” For adults, new SKUs for the recently launched premium offer McIntosh Select are in the pipeline, which the team at Strathmore hopes will bring more shoppers over to the McIntosh brand. Plugging gaps is no longer restricted to the market at

Strathmore Foods, as 2018 has also seen the McIntosh brand increase support for local communities through its McInvest programme. The community campaign offers local community groups the chance to apply for grants on a monthly basis, an approach which Nisbet said has helped the brand connect with consumers. “We wanted to back individual community projects, so that can mean supporting an Alzheimer’s group on a days outing, or funding for children who need additional support.” In addition to its charity work, the McIntosh brand has also reached out to Scottish consumers through ramped up marketing activity in 2018, which has included television campaigns on STV and will also see the brand team up with Bauer Radio.

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Scottish brands 2018

5. Bells

For every three pies sold in Scotland, two of them will be Bells. Bells marketing and sales boss Gordon Smith talks pies, pastry and where the future lies for the brand

Bells sales and marketing director Gordon Smith (above) puts the brands success down to trust, quality, value and flavour.

COMING into 2018 hot from the launch of its new Bakes range, Bells has had another successful year and retains its fifth place spot in our rankings. Perhaps best known for its scotch pies, the Lanarkshirebased firm knows its way around pastry, producing 100 tonnes — the equivalent of around 17 African bull elephants — each week. Gordon Smith, sales and marketing director at Bells, said he is delighted with the relationship the brand continues to have with both its customers and consumers. “We’re really part of the iconic food landscape in Scotland now and that’s a nice place to be,” he said. “There’s probably four things I would put that down to. The first big one would be trust. Consumers trust our brand, there’s a huge emotional at-

tachment. “But to do well you’ve also got to give quality, you’ve got to give value, and you’ve got to taste good. I think from all those aspects, trust, quality, value and taste, we score reasonably well. “We’re still growing, more consumers are coming into our brand. It’s a very privileged place to be,” he said. For convenience retailers, Smith said shell pies persist

as the key lines. The Bells shell pie range has plenty of variety, with flavours including Scotch, Steak and Gravy, Steak and Haggis, Macaroni, and Chicken Curry. “Within that, the Scotch Pie is undoubtedly the hero product and should be a must stock,” said Smith. “Consumers will look for it and they will look for a Bells Scotch Pie. To put some perspective around it, Bells has

Shell pies are thriving in the Scottish grocery sector according to Gordon Smith.

67% of the scotch pie market in Scotland, that’s about six times the market share of our nearest competitor.” Smith’s advice to c-stores with limited square footage, then, is to get sorted for scotch pie and expand from there. “If it was a convenience store, if there’s only two SKUs, the two that must be stocked would be Bells Scotch Pie and a two portion Bells Steak Pie. “If you’re going for a third SKU in there, have a Bells Steak and Gravy because that’s our third selling SKU. Those core SKUs are still performing well and we even saw that during the summer when we were up at Hawaiian temperatures.” When your pies are performing so well it might be tempting to take an ‘if it ain’t broke don’t fix it’ approach, but at Bells, Smith said there are plenty of ideas in the oven for 2019, with expansion of its premium offer as well as vegetarian, vegan and healthier options all on the horizon. “One big driver is premium, the second big driver is going to be pack format. “One of the things that has been on the go for a while has been snacking but linked with that has been bitesize, and bite size is certainly something that we see. “The other third key driving area is an understanding of the part that health has to play within a diet so we’re looking at products which are lower in salt, gluten free type products and vegetarian and vegan,” he said.

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* Source: Kantor Worldpanel take-home, non alchohol spend per 1000, in Scotland, for period up to 9th Sept 2018.

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Scottish brands 2018

6. Baxters Celebrating its 150th anniversary in 2018, Baxters is the top soup brand in Scotland and it’s not too difficult to see why FEW companies can boast the heritage of Baxters which celebrated its 150th birthday this year, and it does so as the sixth biggest Scottish brand — proving the it is still a hit one and a half centuries on from its foundation. Baxters marked the milestone with the launch of a limited edition label for its Royal Game soup during the summer, bearing a label inspired by one of the brand’s 1930s designs. And while its important to reflect, Baxters 150th year saw the brand looking forward with shoppers introduced to a whole new lineup of soups positioned to tap into contemporary trends. Baxters Food Group has been appealing to health conscious consumers through its Super Good range of six soups, each filled with ‘great for you’ ingredients. The six strong range includes flavours like Root Vegetable and Turmeric, and Tomato, Orange and Ginger, with each SKU said to contain “proven health boosting ingredients”. The popular Hearty range has also been rejuvenated, with 20% of the energy in

At 150 years young Baxters is still on top of trends, as its healthier soups show.

each can now sourced from protein. As well as boosting the protein in its existing Hearty range, Baxters Food Group introduced three new SKUs: Carrot, Ginger and Quinoa; Moroccan Chicken Harira; and Spicy Green Lentil Dhal. Commenting on the new soups, Cara Chambers, marketing director at Baxters said: “The introduction of Super Good is in recognition of changing consumer demands, attitudes and tastes. “With a focus on the impor-

tance of a healthy lifestyle, this soup range is built around key ingredients which are promoted as having significant health benefits. “We have always been committed to goodness in our soups and this range goes a step further putting it at the very heart of the range. “Our Hearty soups provide consumers with a wholesome alternative which deliver on big flavours, but also provide a protein boost, as well as contributing to a minimum of two of their five a day.

“By sharpening up this message, we have ensured a clearer communication to the consumer via the labelling. “Both these ranges reflect considerable product development and packaging enhancements. Both these additions complement our existing popular portfolio whilst giving customers something new, contemporary and relevant to other consumers.” Not content to rest on their laurels, the team at Baxters looks intent on entering 2019 in a strong position, with the brand returning to television screens as part of a major advertising campaign for the first time since 2012.

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Scottish brands 2018

7. Tunnock’s THE biggest name in Scottish confectionery and a global force to be reckoned with, Tunnock’s continues to charm shoppers with its range of quality treats — all produced at the brand’s Uddingston headquarters. Caramel Wafers and Teacakes, along with Snowballs, make up the majority of production at Tunnock’s, with in excess of three million Teacakes leaving the factory each week. Tunnock’s popularity at home and abroad was brought into sharp focus for Scottish Grocer on a trip to see the top man Boyd Tunnock earlier this year. On a tour of the recently expanded bakery, which saw the Uddingston site extended by 22,000 sq ft as part of a multimillion pound investment of facilities, Boyd — who continues to be hands on with the business at the age of 85 — had plenty of impressive kit to show off. The Tunnock’s boss revealed that during the bakery’s busiest season, September through December, the day shift can wrap 1050 teacakes per minute during peak production; with packs bound for shops everywhere from Milngavie and Morocco

Owner Boyd Tunnock has invested heavily in production to meet the rise in demand, with multimillion pound expansion of the firm’s Uddingston bakery now complete. While reformulation has become a trend for brands across categories as politicians on both sides of the border float restrictive policies, Boyd has no plans of changing the recipe for his much loved products.

to Springburn and Singapore. The recently completed three-story extension at Tunnock’s bakery has boosted

capacity by 10% — a necessary step for a family business that continues to grow more than a century on from its founding. One major addition to the site is a new wrapping line, which Boyd told Scottish Grocer has significantly increased the speed at which Tunnock’s can wrap its popular confectionery, with individual lines capable of processing 600 Caramel Wafers a minute. And while Tunnock’s may have modernised production over the years, one of the secrets to the brands success would seem to be consist-

ency, with Boyd reluctant to tweak recipes despite the reformulation that has occurred elsewhere in the confectionery category. “The caramel recipe hasn’t changed in years,” he said. “You just keep it right because you daren’t change anything. If you do people will say ‘that doesn’t taste the same’.” • Tunnock’s was founded in 1890 by Thomas Tunnock. Today, the business is run by grandson Boyd, inventor of the Tunnock’s Teacake, which first landed on shelves in 1956.

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Scottish brands 2018

8. Seriously

UP one place to eighth on the top brands list, Lactalis McLelland’s Seriously cheddar brand has clearly been making inroads with shoppers since it was rebranded in 2017. Last year, as part of a major

relaunch of the cheddar, Seriously was segmented into Strong and Creamy sub-ranges in a move which Lactalis McLelland hoped would aid shoppers when making purchasing decisions.

As part of the rebrand, packs were given a new Seriously logo as well as visible sub-range descriptors for the Strong and Creamy variants, designed to help shoppers differentiate between the two ranges. To coincide with the rebrand, Lactalis McLelland launched a new line for the brand Seriously Creamy Medium Cheddar. The revamp appears to have paid off for Seriously, with the brand yet again climbing the top 50 rankings, having dropped to 14th in 2015. Speaking at the launch of the new-look packs, Mike Chatters, sales director for Lactalis McLelland said: “The long

term success of the cheddar category depends on us developing a deep understanding of consumers’ lives and their needs, which is why we place the consumer at the heart of everything we do. “The relaunch of the Seriously brand is good news all round. From a brand perspective, it means we can play across the breadth of the category. The cheddar category itself will benefit from brand sales growth in the mild/medium maturity segment. “Retailers will appreciate being able to offer shoppers a high quality branded mild/medium cheddar with a British provenance story.”

9. Simon Howie

WITH more shoppers purchasing vegetarian alternatives than ever before, it was only a matter of time before someone brought veggie square sausage to the masses, and Scottish butcher Simon Howie managed to grab headlines this year by doing just that. Launching a vegetarian version of the Scottish breakfast staple in the autumn, Simon Howie said it developed the meat-free version in response to the growing trend of flexitarianism, with many consum-

ers opting to reduce their meat consumption without cutting out animal products from their diet entirely. The soya-based square sausage is the third vegetarian product developed by Simon Howie following on from the butcher’s Wee Veggie Haggis and Vegetarian Haggis, which the brand said has seen sales increase by 24% in the past year. Simon Howie commented on the launch: “Lorne, square, slice, flat, whatever you prefer to call it, Scotland’s square sausage is almost a national dish in itself. To date there has been no meat-free alternative available and we are extremely excited to be

addressing that. “Perfect for a meat-free morning roll, no one has to miss out on enjoying this Scottish classic any more. Whether you’re vegetarian, or simply looking for a meat-free alternative, we hope our customers enjoy this new breakfast sausage.” Veggie friendly sausages to one side, Simon Howie continues to be a butcher business at heart, offering plenty of premium meat products for Scottish shoppers to enjoy. Simon Howie’s vast selection of Scottish staples includes bacon packs, pork and steak sausages, steak burgers, steak lorne, beef olives and black pudding, as well as an extensive haggis range comprising: Original Haggis; Chief-

tan Haggis, Gluten Free Haggis; Vegetarian Haggis; Wee Haggis; Wee Veggie Haggis; Haggis Truffles; Sliced Haggis; and Perthshire Sliced Haggis.

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Scottish Cheddar Brands for all occasions No.1 Scottish Cheddar Brand*

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Scottish brands 2018

10. Hall’s JUMPING from 22nd to 10th, the team at Browns Food Group is clearly doing something right with Hall’s since purchasing the brand in 2013, as Scottish shoppers seem to be flooding back. Followers of Hall’s’ social media channels may have noticed a change of tone over the last 12 months, with no shortage of playful banter as well as a host of new snappy video recipes — some of which have garnered hundreds of thousands of views online. It’s all part of a revamp of the Hall’s brand, complete with new packs rolling out across the range, with a number of SKUs now including scannable QR codes on pack which direct shoppers to Hall’s video recipes. Molly Jardine, head of group sales at Browns Food Group reckons this is only the beginning of Hall’s’ ascension, as the brand has plenty of ideas for the year ahead. “Over the last 12 months we’ve worked quite hard on our rebrand and we’re hop-

11. Barr ing that will maybe bring us up even further next year,” she said. Hall’s isn’t reinventing the wheel, and will still continue to offer the kind of traditional Scottish favourites shoppers love, but a bit of marketing savvy combined with the prospect of more NPD has already lead to real gains. Jardine highlighted a tweak to the Hall’s Mini-Breakfast pack, which was recently renamed The Wee Belter, as an example of how small changes boost performance. “The Wee Belter has gained

some real traction,” she said. “We’ve just renamed a product we already had which is essentially two link sausages, two servings of black pudding and two pieces of lorne.” The Wee Belter is one of the core lines Jardine reckons retailers should ensure they have in the chiller alongside Hall’s Black Pudding, Lorne, and Haggis. Outside of those core lines, Hall’s has been bolstering its chilled offer with the recent introduction of Scottish chilled ready meals and sliced cooked meat products.

consumers increasingly seeking out heritage and provenance when they head to the shops, the brand would appear to be in an enviable position for the year ahead. Scotty Brand definitely knows its audience, with the launch of its Chippy Chips pack in 2017 following a survey of consumers which sought to find the nation’s favourite chip toppings. The Scotty Brands range also offers plenty of traditional favourites, from vegetable soup and sausage

rolls to smoked salmon and Scotty Brand cakes. Established in 1948, Scotty Brand retains a farm to plate ethos that’s increasingly sought after by shoppers, with a strong roster of award-winning Scottish producers keeping the brand well stocked with a diverse range throughout the year. Seasonality continues to influence the Scotty Brand range, with summer hits like the brand’s Raspberries and Strawberries packs unavailable in the winter months, when

QUALITY soft drinks at an affordable price point, the Barr range continues to impress Scottish shoppers, improving on last year’s 13th place spot to knock on the door of the top ten. While Irn-Bru will undoubtedly be numero uno for the foreseeable, Barr flavoured carbonates gives AG Barr plenty of room to experiment. Recent limited edition releases have included Sherbet Lemon and Rhubarb & Custard flavoured carbonates, as Barr taps into nostalgia to great effect.

12. Scotty Brand SCOTTISH produce has a strong reputation for quality globally and looking at the range on offer from Scotty Brand it’s very easy to see why. Placed at 14th in 2017 and 15th the year before, Scotty Brand continues its steady climb up the rankings and with

heartier fare comes to the fore. A firm with a social conscience, Scotty Brand spent last Christmas working in partnership with social enterprise group Social Bite, supporting a Christmas Eve dinner for the homeless community, followed by a sit down breakfast on Christmas morning.

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Scottish brands 2018

13. Highland Spring

WHEN Scotland enjoys one of those rare warm summers you know that bottled water is going to sell, but Highland Spring’s six place jump from 19th in 2017 to 13th should not be attributed to rising mercury alone. It’s been a busy couple of years for the team at Highland

Spring, as channel marketing manager Nichola Grant explained: “This year has been a continuation of all the great work last year on the brand refresh and our new campaign, so it’s been a busy 12 months and an incredibly busy two years overall,” she said. “I think there’s generally been a lot of positivity around the brand, some of the things that we’re doing around new packs, such as the kids pack which we launched earlier this year. That’s currently available in grocery and we’re in ongoing conversations about widening that distribution.” Grant highlighted Highland Spring’s ongoing Brave by Nature campaign as a key driver

THIS year has been one of major investment for Albert Bartlett, with the firm opening a new state-of-the-art chilled plant at its Airdrie headquarters as it seeks to expand its offer to retailers. The new facility was partfunded through a £4m food processing, marketing and co-operation grant from the Scottish Government, which contributed to the total investment in the new factory and development kitchen — from which we can surely expect to see intriguing chilled potato NPD in the future. Company chair Ronnie Bartlett commented on the investment: “Airdrie is at the heart of what we do, and with our new production facility we will be able to meet growing demand for convenient, prepared dishes and deliver a bit of magic for our customer.” It’s not just major invest-

ments that have been grabbing headlines for Albert Bartlett in 2018, as the Scottish firm also found itself in the spotlight through the recent revival of root vegetable salsify. A Waitrose exclusive, Albert Bartlett’s salsify was sourced from a Girvan harvest. Salsify may not be available to independent retailers at present, but Albert Bartlett’s willingness to revive a vegetable popular in the UK during the Victorian era shows the firm is not frightened to innovate. NPD from the firm in recent years have included the relaunch of Purple Majesty potatoes, a new foil pack for the Apache variety, and the launch of frozen Rooster roast potatoes basted in goose fat. Albert Bartlett has also enjoyed partnerships with celebrity chefs Andrew Fairlie and Michel Roux Jr.

of the brand’s current success and she suggested that retailers can expect to see plenty more from the campaign in 2019. The last year has also seen Highland Spring continue with its environmental work, teaming up with charity Keep Scotland Beautiful to place funnel bins on popular tourist trail the North Cost 500. Highland Spring has also been experimenting with ecofriendly packaging, trialling a bottle made from 100% recycled PET, which Grant said could appear on a permanent basis soon. Looking to 2019, Grant said Highland Spring’s 750ml plain still water continues to be a

star performer, as does its take home 12-pack, but, she added, convenience retailers may be missing a trick if they’re not offering sparkling at present. “Sparkling is perhaps in some channels a bit of an untapped opportunity. It’s one to watch,” she said.

14. Albert Bartlett

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• GOOD FOOD’S BEST FRIEND •

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We’re delighted to have climbed two places to number 12 in the Kantar World Panel 2018 Scottish take-home brands. Whether it’s our commitment to a growing range of Scottish produce and foods – including our frozen Garden Peas and Chippy Chips, or delicious Scottish Fancy Cakes – or Scotty’s hard work and canine charm, it’s a result that’s not to be sniffed at.

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We’re delighted to be at number 14 in the 2018 Kantar table of Scottish take-home brands. We have been a family-run business since 1948 and and are now the UK market leading supplier of fresh potatoes. Our varieties include our award-winning Rooster potato and the creamy, buttery Elfe. We apply the same expertise to our frozen range which includes chips, fries, wedges and roast potatoes. All the convenience of frozen, all the quality of Albert Bartlett.

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Scottish brands 2018

15. Rowan Glen IT’S been a busy year for Scottish dairy brand Rowan Glen with the firm revamping its packaging, as well as its manufacturing facilities, while bringing new SKUs to Scottish consumers. Summer saw the arrival of a new single serve yogurt range from Rowan Glen comprising three flavours — Blackberry & Bramley Apple, Strawberries & Cream, and Caramelised Pear & Creamy Fudge. The range was developed by Rowan Glen following research that identified consumer demand for innovation

and excitement within the yogurt category. Danny Cairney, senior commercial manager for Rowan Glen commented on the launch: “It’s an exciting time for the Rowan Glen brand with the addition of this new yogurt range to our product portfolio. “We spotted a clear gap in the market for a luxury Scottish yogurt, with a focus on premium quality, whether it is consumed at lunch, as a snack or after-dinner indulgence.” Rowan Glen hasn’t just been generating excitement through NPD, the brand has also extended its partnership with Edinburgh’s King’s Theatre’s annual pantomime pro-

duction. Sales director Danny Cairney said: “The pantomime brings so much enjoyment to families from across the country, and we are proud that Rowan Glen will play a starring role, for the second year running,

in what is a much-anticipated annual highlight for many. This wonderful explosion of festive fun never fails to put a smile on everyone’s face and we’re very excited to be part of this year’s magical journey of enchantment.”

16. Galloway DELVING into the Scottish Grocer archives, you can find adverts for Galloway Cheddar dating as far back as the brand’s launch in 1959, and the fact that it continues to prove popular with Scottish consumers today speaks volumes. A lot has changed since the early days of Galloway, and

Galloway Cheddar first appeared in Scottish Grocer in the 1950s.

brand owner Lactalis McLelland has continued to improve the Scottish cheddar’s offer, including through the launch of a new grated family pack earlier this year. The new 400g pack was designed to appeal to families and drive incremental sales for the brand. Previously, Galloway’s grated format was only available in 200g packs. Mike Chatters, sales director for Lactalis McLelland said: “With its smooth and creamy profile, versatility and Scottish heritage, Galloway is hugely popular with families and this new pack format is aimed squarely at them, providing a

convenient product that fits with their busy lives.” Following the launch of the larger grated pack, the Galloway range now comprises multiple variants across blocks, sliced, grated as well as a 125g Galloway Spread-

able pack. Lactalis McLelland supported Galloway this year through a digital marketing campaign which was designed to engage with and appeal to the brand’s core target market: young families.

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Scottish brands 2018

17. JG Ross ABERDEENSHIRE baker JG Ross finds itself inside the top 20 for the second year in succession, moving up from 18th spot last year. Retailers themselves, with 19 premises as well as a growing wholesale customer base, JG Ross certainly knows how to make the kind of produce that appeals to Scottish punters. From butteries and bread to pies and cakes, JG Ross covers all the bases, but the baker hasn’t been slow to tap into contemporary trends. JG Ross now offers a selection of gluten-free bread and rolls as well as a ready meal range comprising Scottish favourites including stovies, mince tatties and skirlie, macaroni, and broccoli and cauliflower pasta bake.

19.

Scottish Blend SCOTLAND has plenty to be proud of, including the quality of the tap water enjoyed across the nation. In addition to being a bit kinder on dishwashers, Scotland’s soft water has an impact on the flavour of tea and so it makes sense to have a brand that’s tailored specifically to that market. Scottish Blend has been created with Scottish consumers in mind, blended for Scottish water. The Unilever brand is available in pyramid shaped bags.

18.

Wiseman

MULLER, the biggest producer of branded and private label fresh milk in the UK, which snapped up Wiseman in 2012, continues to invest in the category. The German dairy giant is investing £100m in its UK network of dairies, with the goal of building an additional £700m worth of sales of dairy products made with British milk by 2020.

20. Border THIS year has been a pretty fantastic one for the Border brand, as its biscuits continue to entice consumers and scoop awards. The Lanark-based bakery has had plenty to celebrate with Border Biscuits winning the Export Business of the Year prize at the Scotland Food & Drinks Awards in the spring, followed by success for its Dark Chocolate Gingers and Lemon Drizzle Melts at The Great Taste Awards. Accolades for Border in 2018 followed on from a flurry of NPD in recent years, including the launch of Strawberry Drizzle Melts and the introduction of its Cafe Bake range, comprising individually wrapped packs of three of the brand’s most popular variants in a larger format. Speaking to Scottish Grocer earlier this year, Border communications officer Andy Alston said he reckons that the brand’s reputation for quality is something independent retailers can tap into. “I would say that for our independent retailers, Border Biscuits offers a premium bis-

cuit at an accessible price point. Independent retailers are looking for the best products and the best price.” Border production manager Elaine Bone, who has worked on the brand since the 1980s, told Scottish Grocer that despite decades of expansion, the bakery’s commitment to quality is just as it was when it was founded. “Our recipes are still the same as when I first started. We were making four kinds of biscuits then, now it’s over 20 but it’s still the exact same methods.” • Border Biscuits was founded in Lanark in 1984 by John Cunningham and a team of

four staff. At peak season, the firm now employs in the region of 200 staff, responsible for the production. The Border range includes Dark Chocolate Gingers, Dark Chocolate Gingers & Orange, Milk Chocolate Gingers, Strawberry Drizzle Melts, Lemon Drizzle Melts, Oat Crumbles, Viennese Whirls, a selection of cookies and more.

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Classic recipes. Beautifully made.

For over 30 years, we’ve been pouring in our passion and layering on our love to every single biscuit from our family of Biscuitiers. It’s why our Dark Chocolate Ginger is the UK’s number 1*. Why our customers are prepared to pay more for our beautifully made biscuits. And why our sales have grown every year for the last 5 years. When you stock Border biscuits, we think yours will too. Which is why you’ll love them just as much as your customers do. *Kantar Worldpanel 52 w/e 17.6.18

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Scottish brands 2018

21. Mackie’s CONTINUING to rise up the rankings, the team at Mackie’s have been busy in 2018 with plenty of NPD across crisps, ice cream and chocolate, charitable work, and serving up customers at its ice cream parlour in Aberdeen. Mackie’s crisps continue to prove popular with Scottish consumers and, in addition to the core range of flavours — which include Haggis & Cracked Black Pepper, Scotch Bonnet Chilli Pepper and Sea Salt & Vinegar — the brand now offers a Ridge Cut range with exotic flavours like Whisky & Haggis and Venison & Cranberry.

Mackie’s even used its crisps range as a force for good in the spring, with the launch of a limited edition packet in support of Muscular Dystrophy UK. The brand donated 7p from the sale of every Sausage & Caramelised Onion flavoured pack to the charity, in a bid to raise £10,000 in support of the cause. On the ice cream front, Mackie’s core range of classic flavours comprises Traditional, Organic, Honeycomb, Chocolate, Chocolate Mint, Raspberry Ripple, Strawberry, and Scottish Tablet. The brand also offers an Indulgent Flavours range which includes Madagascan Vanilla,

White Chocolate & Coconut, Salted Caramel, and Mango & Passionfruit. For fans of Mackie’s chocolate, February brought some brilliant news as the brand announced it was making its bars even bigger, increasing from 100g to 120g. Kirstin Mackie, development director and one of the three sibling owners of the Aberdeenshire firm said: “There’s been a lot of talk over the past few years about the decreasing size of chocolate bars despite prices going up. “However, we’re delighted

that we’re able to offer that bit extra for the same price as beforehand and have an even better taste thanks to the team of chocolate experts who’ve helped us perfect our bars. “Big nights in are becoming more and more popular so our bars will be perfect for those looking to unwind at night and share the great taste with friends and family.” Mackie’s chocolate is produced in a transformed tractor shed on its Aberdeenshire farm, which now houses a state-of-the art chocolate factory.

22. Mothers Pride THERE are few things more comforting than a slice of toast, particularly on a cold winter night, and the appeal of Mothers Pride to Scottish shoppers looks to be as strong today as when the brand made its early appearances on TV screens in the 1960s. Mothers Pride bread was first sold in 1936 by a W.J Brookes & Sons in Manchester. However, in 1955 British Bakeries was set up by flour producer Rank Hovis McDougall and the firm took over W.J Brookes & Sons. In 1956, Mothers Pride was marketed as a national brand by the new British Bakeries division. This led to various TV adverts for the brand featuring a host of well known contemporary celebrities of the time, such as Thora Hird and Dusty Springfield. Today, Mothers Pride operates as a sub-brand of Hovis, and Mothers Pride Scottish Batch is produced in Glasgow.

Still a firm favourite in Scottish households, Mothers Pride is a sub-brand of Hovis. The brand continues to produce its plain loaves at its bakery in Glasgow.

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Scottish brands 2018

23. Mac B THE introduction of the Soft Drinks Industry Levy was one of the biggest stories of 2018, with many brands reformulating or changing price as a result of the legislation. Flavoured water was one category that may have been able to make the most of the changing drinks landscape, with Macb’s range offering consumers a sweet option without the calories or sugar. The firm’s marketing director Mark Edge said earlier in the year that demand for healthier options was proving beneficial for the category. He said: “The demand for healthier soft drinks and an increase amongst consumers looking for no-added-sugar options has resulted in sales

for the flavoured water category. “Flavoured water offers a great compromise between water and taste and Macb offers consumers quality and provenance at an affordable price. “Consumers’ awareness of health is a reflection of how the soft drinks category is segmented. “The continued growth in consumer appetite for different types of water is translating into strong sales for the category.” And according to Edge, the Scottish provenance of Macb may also prove to be a selling point. “Macb is Scotland’s number one flavoured water brand and

delivers the balance between hydration and taste with a range of delicious fruit flavours – all of which are made from natural Scottish spring water in Macduff, Aberdeen-

shire plus they’re sugar free,” he said. • Macb flavoured waters are available in 330ml, 500ml, 1.5L and multi-pack formats in five flavours.

24. Nairn’s

Oatcakes continue to play a major part in the Nairn’s business, but the brand has also diversified its offer in recent years, paying particular attention to gluten free.

RETAINING its position as a top 25 Scottish brand, Nairn’s has been at the forefront of the gluten free trend that has swept the nation in recent years. The firm has been innovative in the free from category, providing a broad selection of gluten free products which it has produced at its gluten free manufacturing site in Newtongrange, Midlothian since 2017. Nairn’s gluten free range includes Gluten Free Snackers available in Cheese, Smoked Paprika, and Sea Salt & Balsamic Vinegar; Nairn’s Choc Chip Astro Bites, Pop Oats, Oat Bar; Wholegrain Crackers, Biscuit Breaks, as well as oatcakes and cereals. C-stores have also been an important part of the Nairn’s business, and earlier this year it introduced price-marked packs

exclusively for the convenience channel. Speaking at the launch of the PMPs, Nairn’s UK sales director, Paddy Cronin, said: “We are the biggest oatcake brand in the UK and one of the fastest growing players within the savoury biscuit category. With this in mind, we’re confident we can drive incremental volume within wholesale and convenience, keeping both retailers and customers happy with great products and channel specific packaging. “Our aim is to secure widespread distribution across cash and carry, and delivered wholesale channels. “We also seek listings with key convenience customers and will support all retailers with an upweighted support package, either direct or via their wholesaler.”

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Scottish brands 2018

25. We Hae Meat CLIMBING all the way up from number 37 to the top 25, We Hae Meat has had a rare old time of it in 2018. A multi-award winning, family-run butcher business, We Hae Meat produces a wide range of products from roasts, steaks and chops, to stewing cuts and mince. Based on the family farm at Cairnhill in the Girvan Valley in Ayrshire, We Hae Meat has come along way since it was founded by husband and wife team Alex and Carlyn

Patron. We Hae Meat’s lineup of Scottish farmed butcher meat includes Steak Slice (in a variety of pack sizes), black pudding, and a grill pack complete with slice, sausage and pudding. Other Scottish favourites offered by We Hae Meat include Beef Olives, Haggis Olives, and Sausage Rolls. The farm also offers a selection of ‘Made in Ayrshire’ pies including Steak Mince, Creamy Chicken, Chicken and Gravy, BBQ Pulled Pork, BBQ Pulled Beef, Chilli Beef, Balmoral Chicken, and Steak and Gravy.

27.

28. Genius

THIS year has undeniably been a big one for Dundee, with the opening of its new state-of-theart train station and, of course, international museum of design V&A Dundee. But 2018 has also been a significant year for Angus-based marmalade and jam producer Mackays. The firm has shot up four places to number 27 in our Top Brands list, coming a long way from 1995 when it produced just 10,000 jars a year. During the summer, the firm sponsored the Edinburgh Film Fest in the City, where it provided free marmalade sandwiches during outdoor screenings of Paddington and Paddington 2.

FREE from has been one of the biggest food trends of 2018, and so the success of Scottish gluten free brand Genius should really come as no surprise. The brand was started in 2009 by Edinburgh-based Lucinda Bruce-Gardyne, after her son was diagnosed as gluten intolerant and she discovered that the gluten-free products on offer in supermarkets were sorely lacking in taste. Lucinda, a trained chef, began experimenting with different recipes to create a glutenfree bread that tasted as good as a traditional loaf — and Genius was born. Since then the brand has grown to encompass five types of loaf

Mackays

along with baguettes, rolls, pitta, wraps, pancakes, bagels and pasta. The Genius brand has now also expanded across the continent, with the range available in France, Germany, Sweden and the Netherlands. This year saw Lucinda bring her message to a global audience by taking part in a TED motivational speaking conference, where she shared the history of the brand and what it had achieved. She also created a Genius Gluten-Free Cookbook, which shows those following a free from diet that they can still enjoy tasty home-cooked food.

26.

Marshalls FOR over 100 years Marshalls has been producing quality produce for Scottish consumers. What started out as a 19th century wheat milling business evolved in 1935 with the launch of Marshalls Macaroni — a product launch that turned the brand into a Scottish household name. Today, the Marshalls range also includes Marshalls Fusilli, Spirali, Penne, Lasagne, Spaghetti, Cheesey Macaroni, Saucy Macaroni Cheese, Semolina, and Farola. Founded by brothers James and Thomas Marshall in Glasgow in 1885, Marshalls continues to hit the mark with Scottish shoppers, as shown by the brand’s three place improvement on last year’s rankings. Any retailers looking to boost basket spend in their store might do well to take a look at Marshalls selection of suggested recipes online. With everything from Chicken and Broccoli Lasagne to Spaghetti with Sweet Chilli Prawns, there’s plenty of link sale inspiration to be found.

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Scottish brands 2018

29. Paterson’s THERE are few things more Scottish than shortbread and Paterson’s knows a thing or two about making one of the nation’s favourite sweet treats. Despite the traditional appeal, Paterson’s has not been shy when it comes to launching new twists on a classic, and in April the brand launched Scottish Cream Jam Shortbread Rounds in a £1 PMP. Paterson’s commercial director Allan Miller said that the new product would offer “the same unique Paterson’s taste and melt in the mouth texture, but with the added twist of a sweet strawberry jam from the beautiful Isle of Arran.” And in October, Paterson’s launched its

Jammy Shortbread with fresh Scottish cream and Isle of Arran strawberry jam, as part of its Giant Cookies range. Jonathan Guild, brand manager at Paterson’s said: “At Paterson’s, we are all about offering delicious treats for all occasions, in-home or out of home. Consumers are increasingly looking for indulgence, fillings and provenance in their biscuit choice, and our Giant Jammy Shortbread delivers exactly that.”

31. Tarbert Fine Foods 30.

Great Scot A KEY trend that Scottish Grocer regularly reported on in 2018 was that of the rise in vegetarian and vegan diets. Scottish shoppers opting to reduce their consumption of meat can’t be bad news for lentil, quinoa and pea brand Great Scot. Its recognisable Red Split Lentils are a staple of soups and vegetarian dishes, while its Marrowfat Peas are perfect for creating classic mushy peas.

COOKED meat specialist Tarbert Fine Foods appears to be doing a grand job of tapping into shoppers’ twin desires for premium produce and provenance. The brand’s portfolio boasts a range of luxury Scottish cooked meats including hams, pork, beef and pastrami, and can be found in all the major multiples across Scotland. Tarbert Fine Foods’ range includes: Arran Mustard Ham, Scottish Finely Sliced Heather Honey Ham, Sliced Scottish Roast Pork, Peppered Topside of Beef, Scotch Finely Sliced Black Pepper Pastrami, Hot

Smoked Salmon with Sweet Chilli Ginger and Lime, Sliced Scotch Topside of Beef, and

raw material, we’re very proud of that. “If an independent retailer

If a retailer wants to offer something that really shows quality and Scottish provenance then absolutely these are the products to go for. Scottish Smoked Salmon. Molly Jardine, head of group sales at Browns Food Group commented: “It’s very much our top tier product, it’s high end cooked meats. “The key thing about Tarbet is it’s produced from all Scottish raw material. It’s all Quality Meats Scotland approved

wants to offer something that shows quality and Scottish provenance then absolutely these products are the ones to go for. “The two top products would be our Sliced Scotch Top Side of Beef, and the other is Scottish Finely Sliced Heather Honey Ham.”

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Scottish brands 2018

33. Mrs Tilly’s

32.

Lawsons PERHAPS best-known for their skinless sausages, Lawsons continues to perform well with Scottish shoppers. The brand’s tagline, “Quality Since 1905” speaks to its position as one of the oldest brands in the top 50. Over a century of success is no mean feat and one worth celebrating.

34. Scott’s Porage Oats IF it ain’t broke, don’t fix it seems to be key to the success of Scott’s Porage Oats. It is hard to imagine a more Scottish mascot than the Scott’s Porage Oats man, and the burly, kilted hero of breakfast is as well known as they come. A fascination with oats among Instagram health bloggers can’t have hurt the brand either.

A RISING star of the confectionery category, Mrs Tilly’s is performing impressively well given that it was only started in the late 1990s. The family business produces a number of Scottish favourites including tablet, toffee, fudge and macaroons, all made to traditional recipes without artificial preservatives or additives. Mrs Tilly’s is owned by Peter and Elisabeth Paterson, alongside their sons Blair and Keir, who started operations from home before moving to an external production site when demand grew. The brand started off supplying to local shops and independent retailers, but after being approached by major supermarkets Mrs Tilly’s became more widely availableand can now be found as far afield as Europe and North America. This year saw the firm add two more stockists to its already impressive list, as the National Trust for Scotland and CJ Lang made significant

partnerships with the brand. The deal with the National Trust saw Mrs Tilly’s secure product listings across venues such as Culzean Castle and the Robert Burns Birthplace Museum, which co-owner Elisabeth said she was “delighted” about. The firm’s success in snapping up a distribution deal with CJ Lang has resulted in

35. Calder

Millerfield

SCOTS evidently like their meat, if the number of meat producers on our Top 50 list is anything to go by. Number 35 Calder Millerfield produces a range of tartan-packaged pies, sausage, black pudding and haggis from its base in Dalmarnock in Glasgow. It has jumped an impressive 13 places since last year, making it the biggest climbing brand on our list. The firm began as a supplier

to chip shops and canteens, but by the 1980s it had diversified into supplying the retail trade, first being stocked in The Co-op. Calder Millerfield turned 50 in 2011 and in 2012 the brand was recognised at the Scotch Pie Club World Championships where it won ‘Best Steak Pie’. And sitting at a healthy number 35 in our list, there is no reason why it wont make at least another 50 more.

its tablet, fudge and macaroon appearing on Spar shelves across the country. Mrs Tilly’s MD Blair Paterson commented on the deal: “CJ Lang & Son Limited has a rich history of serving Scottish communities dating back to 1919 and while the Mrs Tilly’s journey has been a little bit shorter — we do share similar values as well as a commitment to supplying quality products and services.” Paterson also announced in April that Mrs Tilly’s would focus on NPD and new flavour combinations to ensure that it didn’t become “complacent” amid its success. “When you buy a Mrs Tilly’s product you’re looking for a traditional Scottish indulgent treat and you know the quality is going to be first class,” he said. “Our Scottish provenance and family story also resonates well with consumers but we can’t become complacent, so it’s important that we update and refresh our product ranges to ensure we maintain a strong position in what is, after all, a very competitive category.”

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Scottish brands 2018

37. Buchanan’s

36. Mrs Unis EDINBURGH-based Mrs Unis is the city’s top producer of authentic speciality South Asian food products, and has been bringing traditional recipes to Scottish consumers for decades. Mrs Unis herself, Shaneen Unis, first arrived in Britain from Pakistan in 1967: bringing with her the idea to introduce traditional spice to chill cabinets throughout Scotland. The firm’s core range is its popular pakora snacks, which include Chicken Pakora Strips, Vegetable Pakora, Chicken Pakora Bites and the much-loved Haggis Pakora. Mrs Unis also produces a range of samosas, bhajis and breads, with vegan nan breads available for those

following a free from diet. Sales and marketing manager Kenny Laughlan put the brand’s success down to a combination of quality and service. He said: “It’s no use having quality products at a price and supplying a poor service. You lose out on the sale and will lose your SKU on the shelf.” Laughlan also put the success of the firm down to its founder, who still works towards building the Mrs Unis brand. “We should never forget — and all our team are still proud of — the one person who in 1998 had the vision and the will to start up the Mrs Unis spicy food company, Mrs Shaneen Unis, who still plays a key part in our day-to-day.”

38.

39.

is a sure fire winner in any category and it certainly works for Big and Scottish eggs.

FAMILY-owned since 1958, Glenrath is situated in the Scottish Borders. Producing over one million eggs each day, the hens are clearly doing something right.

Big and Scottish PROVENANCE on the pack

Glenrath

IN the 1850s the world was a very different place, with Charles Dickens the major writer of the time, fighting ongoing in the Crimean War and Queen Victoria on the throne. Yet despite being established way back in 1856, confectionery brand Buchanan’s is still going strong in 2018making it into the top 40 of our list of Scottish brands. Its products are well-kent in their sweetie jar format, but in recent years Buchanan’s has also moved into shelf-ready hanging bags, a move that has proved successful for sales. Owned by Golden Casket and produced at the firm’s factory in Greenock, the Bu-

chanan’s range now comprises more than 50 product lines including Liquorice Whirls, Soor Plooms, Iron Brew Pastilles, Chocolate Caramels, and Chocolate Peppermint Creams. • Golden Casket faced sad news earlier in 2018, when its founder Douglas Rae passed away at the age of 87. A true giant of the confectionery industry, tributes were paid from across the retail and confectionery sectors to Douglas, who started his career in banking before founding Golden Casket and later becoming the chairman of Greenock Morton FC. He will be dearly missed.

40. Highland Game SCOTLAND has long been a country successful at producing venison, but by 1997 it was mainly sold for export with poor sales at home. That was the year that Christian Nissen founded Highland Game, with the aim of getting Scots to view their venison more dearly. He placed the firm’s venison into mainstream retail out-

lets rather than just specialist butchers, with Highland Game now stocked in stores including Asda, Aldi, Co-op, Lidl, Morrisons, Tesco and Waitrose. Its range includes Smoked Venison, Scottish Slimmers Venison Meatballs, Outlandddish Venison Steaks, and, for the brave-hearted, Outlanddish Ostrich Steaks.

62 · Scottish Grocer · December 2018

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Scottish brands 2018

41. Orkney MADE using fresh milk from island cows, Orkney cheddar is a brand with a story to tell. The third entry from Lactalis McLelland on our list, Orkney is the only cheddar brand in the UK that has been granted Protected Geographical Indication (PGI status). Cheese has been produced on Orkney for centuries, but it was during the Second World

War when the islanders were joined by 60,000 servicemen and women and 550 Italian prisoners of war that things really stepped up a gear. Since then, the surplus dairy produced on Orkney has been used to produce the popular cheddar brand. Today, the Orkney creamery sits on a former RAF base outside Kirkwall.

tained programme of promotional activity across multiple sectors, coupled with a wide range of partnerships and consumer promotions, all designed to increase the profile of, and demand for, the brand. Key promotional activities during 2018 included an on-

pack short break competition with Forest Holidays, a range of sponsorships including the World Porridge Making Championships and Royal Scottish Country Dance Society Winter School, recipe development with several of Scotland’s top food bloggers, healthy breakfast events in primary schools across Scotland, and extensive consumer goody bag sampling at sports, family and charity events. The brand is also currently working on a new recipe competition with the Scottish Women’s Institutes as well as engaging in advertising activity across a range of consumer facing publications throughout the winter months.

42. Hamlyns FROM your Scottish granny to the hottest influencers on Instagram, the cross section of porridge consumers has never been more diverse, making the category a must-stock for convenience retailers. Hamlyns continues to perform well in the highly-com-

and a desire to innovate. Alan Meikle, managing director at Hamlyns said: “Provenance is very important to us. Our porridge oats and oatmeals are 100% Scottish from field to mill to finished product. “We work closely with a net-

We work closely with a network of Scottish farmers, many of whom have supplied us for several generations. petitive cereals category, in which porridge is a leading light, as hot cereals continue to buck the trends with volume growth. Still produced entirely in Scotland, Hamlyns strikes a balance between the traditional and the contemporary as a brand with both provenance

work of Scottish farmers, many of whom have supplied us for several generations. “It’s something that we’re very proud of and is something that’s becoming increasingly important to consumers.” The last 12 months has seen Hamlyns engage in a sus-

64 · Scottish Grocer · December 2018

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Scottish brands 2018

43. Dean’s STARTING life in the kitchen of Helen Dean in Huntly, Aberdeenshire, Dean’s has come a long way to make it into the top 50 Scottish brands. Back in 1975 Helen’s husband Bill sold her shortbread to raise funds for the local pipe band, but its popularity soon led to her establishing a small bakery. The business then grew again in 1992, when Dean’s moved to a new

purpose built bakery, and began exporting to around 30 countries around the world. In recent years Dean’s has launched its brand mascot Shortie, opened a visitor attraction dedicated to shortbread, and created a gluten free shortbread range. The firm also sells a range of gift tins by artist Steven Brown, featuring a range of colourful Highland cows.

45. Lees 44.

Macsween

IT doesn’t get much more Scottish than haggis, so it seems fitting that Edinburgh-based haggis producer Macsween makes it onto our list of the nation’s top 50 brands. Macsween’s haggis, vegetarian haggis and black pudding recipes have remained virtually unchanged over the last 60 years, but in 2017 the brand did add a gluten free haggis (certified by Coeliac UK) to its range. Macsween also offers a more exotic selection of products, that includes a Moroccan Spiced Vegetarian Haggis and Chocolate and Chilli Black Pudding for those feeling adventurous. In 2017 the firm also managed to sell its products in Canada for the first time in almost 50 years, by amending the recipe to use lamb hearts.

PERHAPS best known for its snowballs and macaroon bar, Coatbridge-based confectionery brand Lees has expanded its range significantly since it first started back in 1931. The firm now sells a range of confectionery bars, including Creamy Strawberry, Scottish Tablet and Scottish Fudge, as well as meringue nests, pavlova and flavoured teacakes. Another popular range, only added to the Lees portfolio in 2016, is its Macaringues. The coloured meringue shells are flavoured like almond but are nut free — as well as gluten free — and are also low in fat, with less than ten calories per shell. The shells can be filled with whatever filling the customer prefers, creating a different

A 2018 campaign from Lees underlined its focus on the family sharing occasion.

treat each time they are eaten. Bert Croll, sales director, Lees of Scotland said: “Lowsugar alternatives have been popular throughout 2018 and we believe many will continue to look for lighter alternatives over the festive season. “Our Macaringues contain only nine calories per shell and can be filled at home. “We see our customers using everything from decadent chocolate ganache to 0% fat Greek yogurt — the choice is entirely in their hands.” 2018 saw Lees build on its success, but also introduce several new initiatives, includ-

ing a new lorry design on the side of its trucks. Back in October, Lees also launched its Snowy Snowballs to target the festive market. The light and fluffy white mallow fillings are covered in a white chocolate and coconut coating, and have a suitably festive snowman packaging. Also in time for the festive season, the firm expanded its meringue range with new Premium Meringue Shells with Dark Belgian Chocolate. Lees said the new product would create a base for a range of desserts while saving time in the kitchen.

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Scottish brands 2018

46. Scottish Favourites RETURNING to the top 50 after a one year absence, Strathmore Foods’ Scottish Favourites offers consumers a range of frozen ready meals that will be familiar to all. The range — which comprises Macaroni Cheese, Black Pudding Slices, Scotch Pies, Macaroni Pies, Stovies, and Haggis Neeps and Tatties, and a new Haggis and Mince — seems to tick the boxes for time-pressed consumers looking for a bit of home comfort at dinner time. Neil Macrae, sales manager at Strathmore Foods, said the range has been

a consistent performer for Forfar-based ready meal manufacturer. “When we first launched, it was to plug a gap in the frozen market where there were no Scottish ready meals,” he said. “It’s always ticked away quite nicely but this year frozen in general seems to be performing quite well. “We’ve certainly seen that in our sales. There’s a haggis and mince pie available now too in the brand, which again gave it a boost.”

47. Scottish Slimmers ANOTHER Malcolm Allan appearance and a new entry on the top 50 brands list, the

Scottish Slimmers range of butcher meat offers consumers an easy way to shop the meat fixture while still keeping on top of their healthy weight goals. Offering lower calorie alternatives of butcher shop classics, the Malcolm Allan Scottish Slimmers range includes the four-pack Steak Burgers,

Scottish Slimmers Pork Sausages, and Scottish Steak Sausages.

48.

Swankies Owned by the Aberdeenbased fishing outfit Joseph Robertson, fish brand Swankies has one of the most modern seafood manufacturing sites in the UK. Its range includes Scottish Salmon Fishcakes, Smoked Haddock Fishcakes and both Breaded and Battered Haddock. • Founded in 1878, Joseph Robertson continues to operate as a family run business. Today the firm is run by the fourth generation descendents of company founder Joseph Robertson.

50. Stockan’s 49.

Grant’s

APPEARING in the top brands list for the third year in succession, tinned food specialist Grant’s offers a broad portfolio of products. While best known for Grant’s Haggis, the brand unveiled new SKUs in 2017 including Mexican Chicken Chilli, Spanish Chilli and Italian Chilli.

ROUNDING off our list at number 50 is Stockan’s, the oatcake brand that has been made on the Orkney Isles for over 100 years. Its high-fibre oatcake range includes thin, thick, cheese, beremeal and black pepper varieties, with mini versions also available for those snacking on the go. In August the firm won ‘Scottish Food Manufacturer of the Year’ at The Food Awards Scotland, with celebrations held back at its bakery in Stromness.

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A year to remember for the off licences

Legislation and shifting consumer preferences influence the market with MUP and the rise of craft both significant ALONGSIDE many developments in the alcohol sector in Scotland, 2018 will be remembered as the year when Minimum Unit Pricing (MUP) was introduced. Although it’s too early yet to know whether MUP has been successful, early indicators are that it has had an impact on the market. That said, it is difficult to separate this effect from the impact of the good summer which encouraged shoppers to stock up on drinks. Initial indicators show that while the alcohol market is in growth, the overall volumes purchased are in decline with some switching towards smaller packs. What we are also starting to see is bigger differentiation between the performance of Scotland’s alcohol market and the rest of Britain when we look at volume growth for different drinks. This time of year also sees shoppers trading up as we look forward to Christmas and New Year and as a result it is expected that MUP will have less effect on premium brands. Over 80% of us bought alcohol on a deal in the last year, but promotions are now declining both in Scotland and the rest of the UK. At Kantar Worldpanel we know that although a third of all products are sold on promotion, only two thirds of these will drive incremental sales for the retailers. Alcohol is one of the few cat-

egories where promotions are likely to deliver real growth. However, the percentage of alcohol sold on promotion has fallen, from 39% before the introduction of MUP, to 22% in the last 6 months. This fall represents a challenge to both brand owners and retailers in terms of how to achieve growth through full price sales. The good news is that brands are crucial to the takehome alcohol category, and are growing at seven times the rate of own label alcohol in Scotland, a figure which isn’t expected to change as MUP starts to bed in. Brands are also growing faster in Scotland than the rest of UK. This growth looks set to continue, particularly in cases where MUP has eliminated the price differential between a branded product and the own label equivalent. This year’s chart contains a rich mix of older and more established brands as well as reflecting the trends toward craft beers and gins. Tennent’s remains the number one alcohol brand in Scotland, and continues to target new consumers. Famous Grouse and Glen’s vodka swap places for the number two and three slots respectively, with the whisky brand taking the top spirit spot. As can be expected, whisky dominates, taking 18 of the 25 slots. The number one malt goes to Highland Park,

with Tamnavulin from Speyside entering the chart at 15. Closely on the heels of Famous Grouse we have Whyte and Mackay and Grants in positions four and five. Edinburgh Gin makes its first appearance at a very strong number six in the charts, with Hendrick’s also appearing for the first time at number 20. The gin category continues to grow as new brands and flavours come to market, as well as benefiting from the success of premium mixers, and it is expected that gin will continue to feature in future charts. Like the of rise in popularity of gin, craft beer is represented by Innis & Gunn and Brewdog with the former getting the number nine slot having appeared at number 16 last year. Brewdog once again makes it into the top ten. Both companies continue to innovate in how they market their brands

and appeal directly to consumers. Our recent panel surveys have shown that the profile of drinking is changing, and people are becoming ever more aware of drinking responsibly. The number of adults drinking in home and out of the home has decreased, putting pressure on brands to find new shoppers. Looking forward to 2019, the brands that will retain their place will be those that focus on the motivations behind the occasions. Which drink is chosen when depends on the consumer’s needs at any given moment in time. If you know this, then you know what role your brand can play. This is what drives differentiation and allows brands to see where there are gaps to grow into and attract new customers. December 2018 · Scottish Grocer · 69

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Scottish brands 2018

Top 25 Scottish take-home alcoholic drink brands in Scotland Rank 2018

Rank 2017

Tennent’s

Famous Grouse

Glen’s Vodka

Whyte & Mackay

Grant’s

Edinburgh Gin

Bell’s

McEwan’s

Innis & Gunn

Brewdog

Highland Park

Isle of Jura

Glenlivet

Drambuie

Tamnavulin

Glenfiddich

Laphroaig

O.V.D

Belhaven

Hendrick’s

Dalwhinnie

Talisker

Auchentoshan

Glenmorangie

Cardhu

Brand

Moving Up

Source: Kantar Worldpanel take-home sales in Scotland 52 weeks to 9 September 2018 v 52 weeks to 21 May 2017. NE = New entry. 70 · Scottish Grocer · December 2018

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TENNENT’S LAGER * IS NUMBER 1

*KANTAR WORLD PANEL BASED ON CONSUMER SPEND IN £´000

@TennentsLager

TENNENT’S AND THE RED T ARE REGISTERED TRADEMARKS OF THE C&C GROUP

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Scottish brands 2018

1. Tennent’s

TOP of the off trade for the second year in succession, Tennent’s appears to have lost none of its ability to charm off Scottish shoppers. Tongue in cheek PR and marketing activity as well as a packaging revamp for 2018 seems to have paid off for the brand, and the Tennent’s train shows no signs of slowing down any time soon. Norman Loguhery, off trade sales director at Tennent’s parent firm C&C Group said 2018 has been an “outstanding year” for Tennent’s, “and what a way to round it off by being named Scotland’s topselling alcohol brand.”

“It’s a huge testament to the quality of Tennent’s Lager that it is so well loved by consumers, and in a busy category it is great to see the enduring appeal of the brand,” said Loughery. “The strength of our relationships and support of our customers is also critical in the brand’s success. “Our sales team work closely with our retail partners, developing and implementing joint business plans built on rigorous market understanding and shopper insight. In the last year, we have also worked with our customers to educate, help prepare and suc-

cessfully implement minimum unit pricing. “This category leadership, by aiding customers, helps ensure the continuing success of Tennent’s Lager. “Tennent’s is a Tennent’s revamped its packaging earlier this year. brand that is continually innovating. This and developments means that year we’ve extended our partwe don’t stand still and delivnership with Scottish Rugby; ers our appeal among drinkunveiled a new can design; ers. launched our new brand plat“Tennent’s Lager is a beer form Bring It On; and opened that consumers know, love a brand new visitor centre at and will always look out for, on Wellpark. the shelves and fridges.” “Each of these investments

2. Famous Grouse FLYING into the number two spot and securing its place as the top spirit in the Scottish off trade, Famous Grouse has finished 2018 with a feather in its cap. Founded by Matthew Gloag at the turn of the 19th century, Famous Grouse has been pleasing Scottish punters for over two centuries, and the brand continues to innovate in the blended whisky space. Classic dram The Famous Grouse has been joined in recent years by a flock of new variants, each offering a different twist on the core expression. The range now includes The Famous Grouse Smoky Black, The Black Grouse Alpha Edition, The Famous Grouse Mellow Gold, and The Snow Grouse. This year also saw Famous Grouse ex-

pand its offer further with the launch of a new range of ‘everyday premium’ whiskies. Offering a new take on the flavour of The Famous Grouse, the new Cask Series range was developed by master blender Kirsteen Campbell, with the goal of celebrating the impact of wood quality on Scotland’s most popular dram. The series was launched with the release of The Famous Grouse Bourbon in the spring. Chris Anderson head of brands at Edrington-Beam Suntory UK said: “The Famous Grouse is the biggest blended whisky brand in the UK and the launch of The Famous Grouse Cask Series allows us to offer drinkers a way to enjoy all the classic smooth, balanced flavours of The Famous Grouse with a twist. “We know that our drinkers enjoy spending a little more to treat themselves to something special and the Cask Series offers a great way to enjoy an everyday reward for lovers of blended whisky.”

Glen’s THE only Scottish vodka brand in the top 25, Glen’s has been a hit with consumers for over two decades and the brand still has plenty of wind in its sails. Produced in Catrine, Ayrshire by Loch Lomond Group, Glen’s still has the brand muscle to see off competitors and it continues to be a must stock for c-stores across the country. The introduction of minimum pricing may have nudged the price of a pack up slightly in some stores, but by nowhere near as much as supermarket ownlabel spirits.

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Scottish brands 2018

4. Whyte & Mackay A SUCCESSFUL year for Glasgowbased blended whisky brand Whyte & Mackay has been topped off by making it into the top five Scottish alcohol brands. The firm has had a busy 2018: releasing a branded pack with Schweppes that offers a free bottle of ginger ale, launching a special 50cl bottle at £10 RRP and being the headline sponsor of both Glasgow International Comedy Festival and comedy at the Underbelly at the Edin-

Grant’s

BLENDED whisky brand Grant’s climbs one place from last year, to claim its spot as the fifth biggest Scottish off trade brand. 2018 saw the firm launch a significant brand refresh, renaming its signature blend to ‘Grant’s Triple Wood’ in recognition of the fact that it is aged in three types of casks. The firm now offers a three strong Cask Editions range: Grant’s Ale Cask, Grant’s Rum Cask Edition and Grant’s 8 Year Old Sherry Cask Finish. Philip Gladman, chief marketing officer at Grant’s said: “While other blended whiskies are declining, Grant’s continues to go from strength to strength. “We are proud to celebrate Triple Wood maturation, the key to our exceptional taste, with a new global brand refresh.”

burgh Fringe. Ruairi Perry, head of blended whisky brands at Whyte & Mackay said: “Being rated so highly by Scottish shoppers is a real compliment for Whyte & Mackay. We believe we produce great whisky, so to see such a loyal following from Scottish consumers is fantastic.” And with Whyte & Mackay’s 175th anniversary next year, Perry said the brand has some “very special birthday celebrations in the pipeline.”

6. Edinburgh Gin DESPITE only being around since 2010, Edinburgh Gin has made up for lost time in spectacular fashion: soaring into the number six spot on our list as a new entry for 2018. The resurgence in gin’s popularity has undoubtedly helped the firm create such a success story, but it has also curated a range of sought-after flavoured gin liqueurs alongside its core gin offer. Joanne Motion, UK customer marketing manager at parent firm Ian Macleod Distillers said that this “versatility” had been shown to be important to consumers. “Our fruit gin liqueurs are perfect for a whole variety of serves and occasions,” she said, “and are an invitation to those new to the gin category to try something a little different.

“It means a great deal to see how well our brand and products are performing within the Scottish market.” 2018 has been a particularly successful year for Edinburgh Gin, according to Motion, with the launch of the brand’s Ready to Drink range as well as a Pomegranate and Rose fruit gin liqueur. She said: “We also invested in our first national advertising campaign ‘Do Your Gin Thing’, which highlights the versatility of our range. “Looking forward to next year, we’ll continue to invest in our brand and product range — as well as inviting people to experience Edinburgh Gin products that are new to them. “Scottish retailers, of course, continue to form an essential part of our plans for consumer engagement in 2019.”

7. Bell’s FOUNDED by retailer Perth retailer Arthur Bell almost 200 years ago, Bell’s Blended Scotch Whisky continues to thrive in the Scottish off-trade as the sixth biggest spirit on

our list. The Diageo-owned blend brings together malt whiskies from the Highlands, Speyside and Islay to create a liquid with broad appeal.

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CELEBRATING OUR NEW ENTRY AS 6TH LARGEST SCOTTISH ALCOHOL BRAND RING IN THE FESTIVE SEASON â&#x20AC;&#x201C; STOCK UP NOW! *KANTAR TOP 25 SCOTTISH TAKE HOME ALCOHOL BRANDS, SCOTLAND

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Scottish brands 2018

8. McEwan’s RECOGNISABLE for its longhaired Cavalier mascot, McEwan’s is one of Scotland’s best loved beer brands and sails into the top 10 alcohol brands at number eight. Joanna Stickler, McEwan’s brand manager, said that to be rated so positively by Scottish shoppers was “really great.” “To remain the top Scottish ale brand within the off trade is a true demonstration of our brand loyalty,” she said, “and we are really proud to have that ongoing engagement with them.” 2018 was a big year for the Edinburgh-based firm, which saw a refresh of its Export, Champion and Headspace packaging after “significant consumer research”, according to Stickler. “The key to our look was to sympathetically modernise the packaging without losing the essence of McEwan’s – something we feel that has been overwhelmingly successful. “We have seen an uplift in year-on-year sales, our core

9. Innis & Gunn drinkers are recognising we have given the brand visually a bit of TLC, and we have opened up the brand to a group of new consumers who may have overlooked us on the shelf before.” This year also saw McEwan’s launch its McNificent campaign, a brand activation that saw the brand team up with Prostate Cancer UK to raise

10. Brewdog SINCE its launch in 2007 Brewdog has had no problems grabbing headline coverage in the consumer press, and 2018 has proved no different. The brand opened a specialist beer hotel in Ohio; announced that it was moving into whisky and rum through its Lone Wolf brand; revealed it was reinstating cask beer into its portfolio; and released details of a ‘BrewDog Boeing 767’ flight that it will run next February. The flight will fly from London to Ohio and offer passengers the chance to take part in beer tasting while on board, and

an in-flight menu paired with beer. In January Brewdog valued its business at a whopping £1.8bn, representing an impressive rise for a firm that only started a decade ago.

awareness of the disease. McEwan’s created its own McNificent Man boxer shorts — which it memorably got author Irvine Welsh to model — with all profits donated to Prostate Cancer UK. But even with a busy 2018 McEwan’s has no plans to slow down for 2019, with Stickler promising “really exciting ideas in the pipeline.”

11. Highland Park

ORCADIAN single malt Highland Park has climbed four places from last year to reach the number 11 spot on our list of top Scottish alcohol brands. The top malt on the list, Highland Park takes pride in its ‘Viking roots’, with its founder Magnus Eunson said to be a direct Viking descendant who set up an illicit bothy near Kirkwall in the 18th century. The distillery still operates on the island, and offers visitors the chance to take a ‘Viking Heroes’, ‘Viking Legends’ and ‘Magnus Eunson’ tour of its grounds.

THE so-called craft beer revolution is now wellestablished, as proven by Innis & Gunn’s exceptional seven place leap to ninth position on our top brads list. Crawford Sinclair, director of sales at the Edinburghbased Innis & Gunn, said: “To be recognised as a leading brand in our home country makes us feel proud and is a great endorsement – Scottish shoppers know what they’re talking about. “Ever since we first discovered the extraordinary impact ageing beer in barrels has on flavour, Innis & Gunn’s reputation has been synonymous with flavour and quality. “This association with quality has continued into the current day.” Throughout 2018, Innis & Gunn has invested in brand activities and Sinclair said that the brands integrated campaigns “resonated strongly with consumers” with the #yourpint activity achieving “record levels of engagement on our social channels.” And the hard work isn’t set to slow down any time soon, with Sinclair promising plenty of “memorable moments” planned for 2019, including one or two new beers.

76 · Scottish Grocer · December 2018

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Scottish brands 2018

12. Isle of Jura 13.

Glenlivet

IT might only be 60 miles from the mainland but the Isle of Jura is one of the most remote places in Scotland: with a population of fewer than 200 and only one road, one pub and one distillery on the island. On the face of it, this might provide difficult conditions for creating a global brand, but Jura Single Malt is a liquid with the quality to reach shoppers across Scotland and beyond. The brand offers consumers a range of whiskies that include the Jura Seven Wood, Jura Journey and Jura 10, 12 and 18 year old.

15.Tamnavulin 16.Glenfiddich TRANSLATING from Gaelic as the ‘mill on the hill’, Tamnavulin is a small distillery at the foot of the Cairngorms that makes it on to our top Scottish alcohol brands as a 2018 new entry.

17. Laphroaig

PRODUCED on the whisky mecca that is Islay, Laphroaig celebrated its 200th birthday in 2015 but it is still going strong today, making it onto the top 20 of our Scottish alcohol brands.

21.

ONE of the original flagship brands of Scottish spirits giant William Grant & Sons, Speyside single malt Glenfiddich has recently experimented with NPD like Fire & Cane and Project XX.

18. O.V.D

IT might stand for Old Vatted Demerara (a style of rum blending from region of Guyana in South America), but O.V.D dark rum is firmly Scottish and has remained popular here since 1838.

22.

14.

FOUNDED in the Livet valley in 1822, Glenlivet later got a seal of approval from King George IV, and Charles Dickens, who wrote to a friend urging them to try the “rare old” whisky. By the 1950s Glenlivet accounted for half of the Scottish malt whisky sold in the US, and is now exported across the world. Its Founder’s Reserve and Captain’s Reserve remain particularly popular, with Glenlivet’s Speyside distillery busy with tourists during the summer months.

Drambuie

DERIVED from the Gaelic for ‘the drink that satisfies’, Drambuie is one of the best known whisky liqueurs going. It is said that it was the prized drink of Bonnie Prince Charlie, who was gifted the recipe by Clan MacKinnon after he fled to Skye after his defeat at the Battle of Culloden. The liqueur was then patented in 1893, and started production in Edinburgh in 1909. The William Grant owned brand is now a popular addition to cocktails like the Drambuie Collins, the Underdog, and the Hootenanny.

19. Belhaven

20. Hendrick’s

PERHAPS best known for Belhaven Best, this Dunbar-based brewery also produces a range of ales, stouts and, in a recent addition to its portfolio, craft beers. Belhaven makes it into the top 20 of our 2018 list, but 2019 is set to be an ever bigger year as it celebrates its 300th anniversary.

CONSIDERING gin’s astronomical rise in recent years it is not surprising to see craft gin brand Hendrick’s as a new entry in our top Scottish brands list. The premium gin is produced in the Ayrshire village of Girvan, and markets itself as a perfect base for cocktails including the Salty Dog and French 75.

23.

24.

25.

FOUNDED in 1811 in Aberlour by Helen Cumming, Cardhu holds the impressive title of being the first distillery to be officially pioneered by a woman. Rounding out the top 25 alcohol brands, Cardhu offers consumers an approachable and elegant taste of Speyside that shoppers keep turning back to.

Dalwhinnie

Talisker

Auchentoshan

Glenmorangie Cardhu

MOVING up one place to the number 21 spot, Dalwhinnie whisky holds the honour of being produced at the highest distillery in Scotland. From its home in the Invernesshire village of Dalwhinnie, the distillery produces a range of single malts including Distillers Edition, Winters Gold and the Dalwhinnie 15 Year Old.

PRODUCED at the Isle of Skye’s oldest working distillery, Talisker distillery has a broad portfolio of bottlings including Talisker Dark Storm, Talisker Skye and the elegant Talisker 30 Years Old. It has historically been popular among Scots, with the brand one of the best selling malt whiskies in the UK as early as 1898.

UNLIKE most of the whiskies on our list, Auchenstoshan is not produced in a rural corner of Scotland, but in Clydebank on the outskirts of Glasgow. The brand produces a range of triple-distilled single malts that include American Oak, Three Wood, Noble Oak, The Bartender’s Malt, and a 12, 18 and 21 Year Old.

BASED in the Highland town of Tain, Glenmorangie malt whisky moves up one spot from last year to take the number 24 place on our list. 2018 saw the brand release a festive gift set for Christmas shoppers, that includes two branded tumblers and a bottle of ‘The Original’ single malt Scotch whisky.

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