The past weeks have dealt serious blows to the Scottish food industry, with shortages disrupting major retailers and restaurants.
Big names including Greggs, Subway, Costa, KFC and Iceland have all dominated the headlines recently as both high street chains and smaller independent business struggle to meet consumer demand, with supply issues resulting in empty shelves and items slashed from menus.
Bottled drinks and milkshakes have been temporarily unavailable at McDonalds across the country, while Costa ran out of decaffeinated coffee at many of their destinations. Some Nandos restaurants have even been forced to close due to shortages of chicken, while others were forced to work with reduced menus.
Wetherspoons meanwhile is beginning to see stocks of popular beers run out, owing to “a lack of lorry drivers” – a key component of post-Brexit disruption to businesses.
This is all clearly a worrying trend, and one which doesn’t seem to have many quick solutions. Industry leaders have voiced their concerns, with the boss of Iceland recently giving a chilling warning that supply chain issues could “cancel Christmas” in 2021.
Last month it was reported that less beef and lamb is being imported from the UK, owing to paperwork issues and delays since the UK left the European Union. This development will doubtlessly hike up prices on these products – farm gate prices in Scotland for the meats mentioned are already between 15 to 30 per cent above the five-year average, which will be reflected in higher costs for the end consumer. Unilever, the multinational consumer goods company, is also warning of price increases alongside its competitor Reckitt Benckiser.
Produce transport costs are increasing too, with supermarkets offering higher wages in an attempt to attract drivers to replace those lost post-Brexit.
One solution is simple and effective: shop local. With the added benefit of encouraging more sustainable, eco-friendly consumerism, looking closer to home for our produce could be the answer to avoiding shortages such as those we’ve experienced in recent times.
This solution could be particularly beneficial when considering household staples, such as meat. Scottish families may be able to postpone their next decaf takeaway coffee, but what happens when the main ingredient for dinner has flown off the shelves, or was never delivered in the first place?
Currently, the UK’s main source of beef is Ireland, which exports more of the product to Britain than Scotland produces all together. Experts predict that Irish producers will start selling more of their beef to the EU once import border checks into the UK start, beginning this October. In fact, we’re already seeing this occur – Ireland sold five percent less of its beef to the UK in the first half of 2021 than in previous years, while exports to the EU rose by 16 percent throughout the same period.
To counter any shortages experienced as we navigate this critical period, the UK’s leading wild venison supplier, Highland Game, is calling on retailers, restauranteurs and consumers to support the sector.
The Dundee-based company, which supplies Tesco, Morrisons, ASDA and other major retailers, has agreed a new supply contract with Forestry England with the potential to boost volume by 15 per cent, in line with the business’ national growth strategy and distribution model for UK venison.
And with category retail sales up 16 per cent year-on-year, outstripping general grocery growth at 11 per cent and red meat growth at 13 per cent, the scene is set for a sustainable success story.
What’s more, the country’s ever-increasing love for venison helps bio-diversity across Scotland, keeping wild deer numbers stable in order for other wildlife, greenery and flowers to thrive. As an indigenous meat, venison is second to none when it comes to traceability, processing, butchering and distribution – not to mention super lean and high in protein for those of us looking to live healthier lifestyles.
Our plentiful venison stock, among other homegrown produce, provides a real opportunity to fill the gaps in the supermarket shelves and restaurant offerings, and to look forward towards a more sustainable future.
It’s up to retailers, restaurants and us, the consumer, to think locally and adapt as we experience these volatile changes in the market. If we consider a delicious venison meal with family this year, then Christmas will be far from ‘cancelled’.
Scots warm to four-day working week
Many suffer from the Monday blues when returning to work after the weekend, so it was no surprise that a recent poll by think tank IPPR Scotland found that the majority of Scots would rather opt for a longer weekly break from working.
The survey showed that more than eight out of 10 Scots would support the introduction of a four-day working week, with a further 65 per cent of those polled also believing that a third day weekend would prove more productive for businesses.
The Scottish Government has already put aside £10m for companies trialling a four-day week for offices. However, the new IPPR Scotland research has put further pressure on those in power to consider rolling out the trial scheme wider – whilst looking into the pros and cons of such a move.
The findings of the poll aren’t exclusive to office-based workers either, with Rachel Statham, senior research fellow at IPPR Scotland, commenting: “We need to see how the shorter working time looks like from the perspective of shift workers, those who work excessive hours to make ends meet, or those who currently have fewer hours than they would like to have.”
Now, in theory a four day working week sounds great, but this could be another potential case of pipe dreams over practicality. More shifts could increase the number of jobs, but the impact on wages would be a hot topic of discussion – especially as those in favour of the four-day weekend have said they’d love to receive the same amount as working five days a week.
We’d all love to get paid for that extra day with the kids or hanging out with your pals, but this ‘Garfield – I don’t like Mondays’ way of working is going to need a lot more planning before I’m convinced.
It Made Me Laugh
Now hard work and commitment from both people and businesses has always pulled on my heart strings, but a recent story about one golden romantic in Scotland really put a huge smile on my face.
78 year old Alan Souter once promised his childhood sweetheart turned wife of 40 years that he would one day make her a ring made from gold he collected while panning across the country.
Starting with nothing but a frying pan during his time as geology student, Alan has dedicated the past four decades to finding specks of gold across 70 of Scotland’s burns and has finally come through on his commitment, forging two rings with his findings.
Truly a man of his word, I’m impressed by the golden motivation of yet another fantastic Scot.
It Made Me Weep
With many restaurants and cafes on the fringe of collapse, it’s frustrating to hear that a popular Edinburgh bistro restaurant has lost nearly £1,700 due to bill evaders over the past few weeks.
Maxies Bistro, located just off the Royal Mile, has hit out at dine-and-dashers who have fled without paying for their food or drink during the Edinburgh Fringe.
According to bistro owner Lynn MacLeod, it’s typically people out on the terrace who take the chance to flee after a few bottles of wine, leaving the restaurant, in some cases, without any profit whatsoever.
Hearing that people are being so heartless and inconsiderate to local businesses that may not survive until the next Fringe Festival really bothers me. It’s theft and should be treated as such.
