The Scottish red meat sector has “all the right ingredients” and “strengths which will prevail no matter what unfolds in the months ahead in terms of the emerging Brexit situation”, according to Alan Clarke, chief executive of Quality Meat Scotland (QMS).
Speaking at the launch of QMS’s Annual Review 2016/17, Clarke noted that QMS’s strategy is to “shape a sustainable and prospering Scottish red meat industry”, highlighting that in the post-Brexit era the role of QMS will be “more vital than ever”.
With regard to the industry, Clarke explained that the industry has had the foresight to “embrace opportunities such as world-leading whole-chain, whole-of-life quality assurance and a commitment to animal welfare”.
He added: “We also have strong sustainability credentials and a willingness to embrace new ideas and technology.
“These are strengths which will prevail no matter what unfolds in the months ahead in terms of the emerging Brexit situation.”
Referring to QMS, Clarke stated: “Our activities are much more wide-ranging than perhaps is understood, he said, and include marketing, quality assurance, health and education, economics and industry development.
“More than 77% of external levy spend is on customer and consumer-facing activities, primarily marketing and promotion and we will continue to look at ways to most effectively promote our high-quality brands.”
Looking to the organisation’s financial position, Clarke emphasised that a priority for every member of staff working at QMS was to ensure value for money for every pound of levy income spent.
During the year to 31st March 2017 the organisation’s total income was £6.4 million (compared with £6.3 million in 2016), while income from the statutory red meat levy for the year was just under £4 million, slightly down on the previous year.
This story was originally published on a previous version of the Meat Management website and so there may be some missing images and formatting issues.
