Mey Selections Adding More Profits For Northern Farmers

26th May 2007

MEY SELECTIONS RAISES ALMOST A QUARTER OF A MILLION POUNDS IN PREMIUMS FOR BEEF AND LAMB

£4.6m turnover in first full trading year

25 May 2007: North Highland Products - the operating company for the Mey Selections brand - has reported a turnover of £4.6m in its first full year of operation, with around £240,000 raised in premiums over the Scottish average price in 2006.

"In our first full year we have achieved a significant rise in turnover," said Danny Miller, chairman, at the company's Annual General Meeting, held last night at the Park Hotel, Thurso. "2006 was a very good year in that we have been able to successfully develop our product range, our supply chain and, return good premiums to our members."

"We have secured about £240,000 in premiums above average market prices and I am very pleased we are delivering what we set out to do - returning more money to farmers and food producers in the North Highlands.", Mr Miller explained.

The Chairman also commented on the increasing numbers of farmer members attracted to North Highland Products, "We currently have over 270 members in the scheme, far exceeding the target we set ourselves."

Mr Miller believed the NHP supply chain was working well. "Cattle and lambs continue to be processed by Dunbia, at a dedicated Mey Selections facility at Dornoch. Cattle and lambs are slaughtered at Kirkwall, Inverurie and Dornoch (lambs) through commercial arrangements with Orkney Meat and Scotch Premier. This shows the benefits of collaboration in the supply chain."

The partnership between Sainsbury's and NHP has grown, with Mey Selections now working with a dedicated brand manager at the multiple retailer. Describing Sainsbury's as 'a key partner in our plans' Mr Miller said the company had offered North Highland Products a long-term contract, which would be finalised in the near future.

"In addition, Pioneer Foods (Carlisle), McClay Foods (Glasgow) and Icefront (London) are signed up as NHP's foodservice distributors and Mey Selections beef and lamb is now available locally through Harrold Bros in Wick to a growing number of local hotels and restaurants."

Mey Selections products are currently offered in over 100 Sainsbury's stores (including most of its Scottish stores). Sainsbury's Taste the Difference Meatballs, which use Mey Selections non-prime cuts, won two prestigious national awards in 2006 and 2007; the Best New Meat Product in the Meat Industry Awards and a Grocer Own Label Excellence Award. The supermarket chain has also recently successfully introduced Mey Selections Gourmet Beefburgers."

"We were delighted when Mey Selections rib beef won the Best Fresh Meat product of 2006 in the Supermeat awards in May last year, while North Highland Products were highly commended in the New Business Award category at the second Highlands and Islands Food and Drink Forum Awards in Inverness in the autumn of 2006 - a great achievement."

"We are hoping to develop more ready-cook and ready-meal products in the future, in collaboration with Dunbia, extending the range of products using non prime cuts, so that the whole carcass of the animal can be economically used."

He added that the company had also made progress in developing supply chains for non-meat products, with the introduction of Mey Selections Honey and Barrogill North Highland Blended Scotch malt whisky.

James Graham, CEO of SAOS, Guest Speaker at the AGM, confirmed his delight at being able to support this outstanding example of the successful commercial co-operation between all parties in a supply chain.

"The early success of North Highland Products demonstrates the value that can be captured when co-operation amongst farmers, and collaboration in supply chains, are fully developed in tandem. It's a powerful demonstration to farmers throughout Scotland, that co-operation and collaboration provide the best route to market, and to more profitable business."

Earlier
25 May 2006
Mey Selections Adds £140k In Premium Prices For Local Farmers
See - http://www.caithness-business.co.uk/article.php?id=241

Web Site Of Mey Selections - www.mey-selections.com

Photo shows Danny Miller, chairman of North Highland Products, the operating company for Mey Selections products. Danny Miller farms at Bilbster in Caithness.