Scottish Association of Meat Wholesalers (SAMW) has called on Government leaders to back the red meat industry’s ‘Grow Baby Grow’ agenda.
SAMW president Alan Brown addressed the organisations’ annual conference in Edinburgh on Friday 26th September.
Brown commented: “While our governments in London and Edinburgh strive for growth, seeking ever new ways to boost the UK and Scottish economies, Scotland’s red meat industry is perfectly placed to deliver growth in simple, time-honoured fashion.
With the nation’s political parties working their way through the autumn conference season, Brown urged party leaders to recognise that Scottish red meat production is “fully equipped for growth” in contrast to many other GDP expansion options.
“It is important to remind our national leaders that they have a ready-made growth resource on their own doorstep.”
Alan Brown, SAMW
Brown continued: “While new investments in AI technology and the like dominate the political headlines, accompanied by eye-watering financial commitments, it is important to remind our national leaders that they have a ready-made growth resource on their own doorstep.
“Every time I talk to producers about the industry, the overwhelming message is about Scotland’s red meat potential. It’s the same for our own member processing businesses, who are all striving to develop new products and new markets – at home and abroad.
“The facts are that we have a well-equipped production, processing and retailing chain. We’re ready to go to new levels of output, given the right support and confidence.
“Why, in this context, would any Government sit by and watch such a well-placed industry being slowly run down and diminished? It doesn’t make any sense at all, and yet this is what has happened throughout the past 10 or more years.
“It has been a particularly tough last 12 months for our industry, complete with business casualties, all of which always inflict job and economic losses on local areas and national GDP. Any such loss is to be regretted and it’s important that we recognise the negatives of the past year for what they were – deeply disappointing and most definitely not something we wish to repeat in 2026.”
Brown concluded: “In contrast, to borrow a quote from the recent US President’s State visit, let’s Grow Baby Grow in 2026 and beyond. This needs to be our mantra for the future and hopefully one that will gain Government support at UK and Scottish levels. We’re most definitely ready as a red meat farming, processing and retailing industry.”
