Scotland
Did you know?
In Scotland, over 1200 Scottish farmers supply Tesco with fresh quality beef.
MacKays
Dundee has long been nicknamed the city of jute, jam & journalism and MacKays, Dundee’s only remaining marmalade manufacturer, ensures the city has kept this famous tradition. A family business, MacKays has been producing their quality preserves, marmalades and curds since 1938.
MacKays are committed to using the finest soft fruit from the surrounding Tayside and Angus region of Scotland, renowned for its ideal climate for growing delicious berries. And, unlike many modern jam makers, MacKays adheres faithfully to the tradition open pan method of jam making, slowly simmering fresh Scottish fruits & berries in open, copper bottom pans. This gives MacKays preserves their characteristic homemade taste & texture.
Dundee Marmalade, Blueberry & Blackcurrant Preserve, Rhubarb & Ginger Preserve, Pink Grapefruit Marmalade, Scottish Raspberry Preserve and Scottish Strawberry Preserve are available in selected stores.
Rannoch Smokery
You can't get more Scottish than venison and Rannoch Smokery. This company is a shining example of Scottish entrepreneurial spirit, borne out of bad weather. Following a deer cull in the winter, Leo Barclay, was snowed in and decided to build a smoker in the back yard. He smoked the venison that he couldn't get to game dealers, and persuaded his friends to be willing tasters. When the tastings were pronounced a "hit" Leo Barclay reckoned he was on to a good thing and realised there was a market for smoked venison.
Situated up the Rannoch glen 50 miles West of Perth the Barclay family have now established their smoked business.The area of Rannoch itself brings together all that is good about Scotland - renowned for the splendour of its Highland scenery, dominated by glens and lochs, watched over by the great peak of Schiehallion, and the Moor is Europe's last great wilderness areas, together encompasses a stunning Scottish location for Rannoch Smokery.
Twenty years on Leo's son Richard, is at the helm. The company's product range has expanded, and the Barclays pride themselves in still making use of the natural larder on their doorstep. Today combining historic techniques with modern equipment and skilful know-how they produce the highest quality smoked foods. Rannoch also deliver their commitment to real food in a way that does not compromise the environment and uses sustainable natural raw materials.
Prime cuts of wild Scottish red deer go to make their popular Roast Smoked Venison but equally delicious is their Smoked Duck both available in Tesco stores throughout the country.
Castle MacLellan
Castle MacLellan originated in Kircudbright over 24 years ago as a small deli shop providing a range of pates from its small back shop blender. Today it has become the UK's leading pate manufacturer.
Still based in the same town the company now produces over 100 recipes devised by their talented in-house chef.
Many of these recipes use locally sourced ingredients from nearby artisan suppliers. For example the Bramley Apple Jelly in the Smoked Duck pate originated from Galloway Lodge Preserves. It is this example of building great relationships with local suppliers that has helped make Castle MacLellen the success story it is today.
Similarly some fantastic ingredients are used in the recipes which make the Tesco Finest and deli counter ranges produced for Tesco by Castle MacLellan.
Scotherbs
Scotherbs all began in the picturesque walled garden in the Carse of Gowrie, mid-way between Perth and Dundee, where Robert Wilson, a man passionate about cooking and frustrated with the lack of herbs available in shops, began growing fresh herbs for his family. When chefs started to drive up to the town to purchase their Saturday night fennel, Robert quickly realised that there was a demand for fresh herbs and in 1987 Scotherbs was born.
From its base in Longforgan, the company supplies fresh herbs to Tesco stores throughout the UK and is now the largest supplier and grower of fresh culinary herbs in Scotland. Now growing 44 types of herbs with love, care and attention.
Scotherbs sees the future as exciting especially as herbs are being recognised for their nutritional benefits and adding flavour to dishes thereby reducing the need for salt in our cooking.
The company has recently developed a vibrant range of preservative-free handmade pesto, mojos, salsas and sauces under the "Ariba - love your food!" label which is available in Tesco stores across the UK.
Robert Wiseman Dairies
Robert Wiseman Dairies was founded by Robert Wiseman Snr in 1947- delivering milk was carried out by a horse and cart with cans and glass bottles as the only means of packing milk in those days. Fast forward fifty years and the business of milk processing and distribution has developed considerably. Robert Wiseman Dairies now a household name procures, produces and delivers milk to customers throughout Great Britain.
In the UK the company operates from five processing dairies, three of which are located in Scotland (Aberdeen, East Kilbride and Glasgow).
As consumer tastes have become more diverse. Robert Wiseman Dairies has responded to current trends by offering Tesco customers milk products to suit all. Not only producing cream but the recognised full fat, skimmed, semi-skimmed varieties of milk to "The One" - the UK's "milk" with specifically 1% fat. Another of their most recent exciting developments is "Pure" a new finely filtered milk that undergoes a heat and filtration process which results in a 'cleaner' creamier flavour but allows your milk to stay fresher for longer.
The company without doubt supplies a consistently high quality product, all year round with milk collected daily from local farms to ensure that milk and cream is as fresh as possible.
Simply Organic
Simply Organic was set up in 1998 by Belinda Mitchell and Christine Manson. A small company based just south of Edinburgh creates a wonderful range of fresh organic prepared foods including a variety of soups, Pure and Pronto ready meals and Simply Organic Pasta Sauces all available in Tesco stores throughout Scotland.
This company has a passion for good food and a passion for life, believing wholeheartedly that "we are what we eat, and we'd rather be naturally pure and tasty than hydrongenated and modified".
Belinda talks about the 'Foundation of Trust' that they have created and their customers know that their products will always be wholesome. Every product created is specifically designed to make eating better and easier so food that is convenient doesn't have to be full of junk.
All Simply Organic products are organic, suitable for vegetarians and help towards the 5-a-day fruit and veg quota. Many are also naturally low-in-fat, dairy-free and wheat-free.
Eating healthier has never been so easy.
Angus Soft Fruits
Based in Arbroath, in a region famous historically for producing raspberries Angus Soft Fruits began its life as a family consortium in 1994. Twelve years later and the company has now expanded to include 23 Scottish family-run fruit growers.
Annually the company now produces 25 million punnets of strawberries and 12 million punnets of raspberries, in addition to other berries including blueberries and blackberries to meet consumer demand.
Not content with growing just any type of "strawberry" the company pioneered and developed its very own variety of strawberry cross-pollinating 100,000 individual seeds to eventually develop one best suited to the growing conditions in the north east of Scotland.
Christened AVA this wonderful variety of strawberry is renowned for its superior taste, aroma and appearance. This mouthwatering, distinctive tasting strawberry which is typically teardrop shaped and bears white confetti like petal is owned, grown and marketed exclusively by Angus Soft Fruits.
In fact we at Tesco thought AVA strawberries so good that we chose it for the Tesco Finest range. From May right through to October Tesco consumers can enjoy the delicious taste of AVA strawberries.
Strawberries contain more Vitamin C than oranges are high in fibre, low in calories and a good source of folic acid.
Mackie's Of Scotland
Four generations of the Mackie family had farmed in Aberdeenshire when in 1986 the increasing demand for skimmed milk resulted in the family starting to make ice cream to utilise the excess cream.
By 1993 the family converted the traditional byre and old mill into a modern ice cream dairy that can now produce up to 10 million litres of ice cream each year.
The rich creamy ice cream is made with fresh milk and double cream from their herd of Jersey and Holstein Friesian cows. They only use top quality ingredients to make some sensational flavours such as "Honeycomb", "Vanilla & Raspberry Ripple" and their most popular of them all "Traditional".
More recently they have launched Dairy Sorbets, delicious and yet with less than 2% fat.
The packaging makes the unique claim that their ice cream is made with renewable energy which refers to the Windmill which generates enough electricity to power the business. The company is well on its way to achieving their goal of leaving a positive energy footprint.
Sticking to the frozen theme Mackies also produces Scottish ice cubes.
Blackwood Distillery
Based in Lerwick on the Shetland Islands, Blackwoods Distillery aims to be the most innovative spirits company in the world and by all accounts this is a distillery with a difference.
Created in 2002 by Caroline Whitefield this new family business is now a key employer on the island.
The company is waiting patiently for its very first whisky to mature in vats - expected in 2009. Blackwoods has created Jagos, their unique Vodka cream liqueur (the world's first) and Blackwoods Vintage Dry Gin both of which can be purchased from Tesco.
Botanicals for the gin include locally grown angelica, wild water mint and coriander, whilst the vodka celebrates Shetland's heritage using fresh water from the island's Heglibister spring, triple distilled and filtered over Nordic beech charcoal.
Strathmore Foods
After purchasing the McIntosh of Dyce brand in 2003, Strathmore Foods based in Forfar near Dundee set about re-launching and re-vamping the newly acquired brand's packaging, product range and recipes to create a hugely popular selection of traditional meals in a convenient format.
During this process the company was resolute in ensuring that their recipes tasted just "how your mum would make it". For instance McIntosh's Macaroni & Cheese uses good Scottish red cheddar, which is traditionally how many Scottish mothers would create this firm family favourite. Begging the question if it looks the part and tastes the part, then why would you go to all the trouble of making it from scratch?
Today the McIntosh ready meal range "traditional Scottish meals made for today" features a selection of favourite Scottish dinner dishes such as Mince & Tatties, Scottish Stovies, Steak Pie & Tatties, Haggis, Neeps & Tatties and Macaroni & Cheese, which proves exceedingly popular with consumers young and old.
In addition to this the company produces in excess of 200,000 scotch pies every week, making Strathmore the undoubted experts in pie making.
The company also supplies Tesco in-store bakeries and deli counters in Scotland with forfar bridies, scotch-pies, steak pies and sausage rolls and customers can now purchase pre-packed pies.
Kettle Produce
Based in Cupar, Fife Kettle Produce was established in 1985 and is owned jointly by the McIntyre and Samson families. Twenty seven years on with its own farms and a supply base of 70 growers across Scotland Kettle is now the largest UK prepared vegetable supplier.
Kettle makes fresh vegetables into fast food with all the washing, peeling, slicing and dicing done. The company produces bags of selected vegetables ready to roast in the oven, others to pop in a pot for soup and still more to sling on the grill for an sizzling barbecue.
The company has recently launched two new products in Tesco stores - the Summer Roast in a foil tray ready for cooking in the oven and a Summer Vegetable mix which is ready to microwave in a bag, or if preferred boiled or steamed to make Summer eating easy.
So as the pace of life becomes ever faster there's no excuse not to indulge in some healthy eating with products as nutritionally convenient as Kettle Produce.
Deans Of Huntly
This company was borne out of altruistic motives when in 1975 in the North East farming town of Huntly, Helen Dean baked shortbread to raise funds for the local Pipe Band.
Little did Pipe Major Bill Dean realise that this idea was to change their lives dramatically. Helen's 'melt in the mouth' shortbread was so popular that they decided to open their own small bakery in a converted town centre grocer shop. Business grew steadily during the 1980's and to accommodate demand the Dean's moved to a new purpose built bakery on the outskirts of Huntly.
Now over one hundred employees bake a range of mainly shortbread biscuits combining tradition with innovation, wherever possible handcrafting process remain to retain the shortbreads "home baked" feel.
The company remains a family concern proudly maintaining the tradition of home baking in an age where time is precious but the appreciation of good food is high.
Deans has supplied Tesco customers for the last ten years and such is Tesco's appreciation for the quality of this shortbread the order book has grown from supplying everyday shortbread fingers and petticoat tails, to now manufacturing Petit Fours, and all the Tesco Finest* shortbread.
Tilly Confectionery
Established in 1997 by Peter Paterson and his wife Elizabeth the story of its origins are unusual. At the time Peter was a salesman for different food and drink products, including kitchen-made tablet on behalf of a retired gentleman. Once tasted never forgotten, Peter recognised that the opportunity for more sales could be achieved. The original creator gave Peter a sketchy outline of the recipe, and after three months of trial and error, and many burnt pans produced a consistent and delicious product.
After hitting on the perfect recipe, now a closely guarded secret of course, they established Mrs Tilly's and filled a niche in the market with mouth-watering, homemade, traditional tablet free from additives and preservatives.
They soon gained a loyal following, and with a nation of sweet-teeth Scots to satisfy, the husband and wife team added other uniquely Scottish favourites to their Mrs Tilly's range. These include fudge and macaroon bars and still adhere to the philosophy that their sweets should taste like granny used to make.
And these are genuine hand-made products. Each twelve bars are made in an individual batch but lucky for us is conveniently available in Tesco stores throughout Scotland.
Mrs Tilly's takes its name form its base in Tillicoultry, near Stirling, where 15 people are employed making delicious tablet, fudge and macaroon bars.
Oatmeal of Alford
Situated at the heart of Aberdeenshire, "Oatmeal of Alford" is produced in the rich land of the northeast of Scotland and is renowned for its nutty and crisp texture. The oatmeal has been made in the same way for over a century using a traditional stone wheel powered by water to grind the oatmeal.
Using locally grown oats the head miller, Ritchie Duncan uses the traditional toasting method, in which an anthracite fire is laid in the basement of the mill and the smoke rises through steel plates on which the oats are spread, using a shovel they are turned twice and dried to perfection.
Milling then takes place where the oats pass through a variety of millstones and sieves to create this unique product.
The oatmeal range sold in Tesco consists of “fine” and “medium” both of which are ideal for making into porridge, skirlie, stuffing and other delicious recipes.
A McLelland & Sons
Founded in 1850, the business began when Archibald McLelland (a grocer and grain merchant) would barter his goods in return for fine dairy produce. Therefore links between the McLelland family and cheese has spanned over 150 years - and they still believe that cheese making remains a real craft.
Today A. McLelland & Sons, based in Glasgow is one of Britain’s largest producers of Cheddar cheese and is Scotland’s leading cheese manufacturer churning out 35,000 tonnes of cheese a year. Despite this impressive turnover, the McLelland dairy still has a chief cheese grader in David McClusky, who’s job it is to decide the length of time each cheese should be stored in order to achieve the perfect taste and flavour.
The company has six creameries across Scotland in Stranraer, Aeron Valley, the Campbeltown peninsula and on the islands of Arran, Orkney and Bute, each producing cheeses with unique, distinctive tastes and characteristics. It is their Stranraer site, which produces Scotland’s best selling and award winning ‘Galloway’ cheese. This medium strength cheddar has a delicious nutty flavour and buttery sweetness that appeals to all generations and is produced unsurprisingly in the Galloway region.
This is in sharp contrast to its Orkney cheese which relies on 14 dairies on the island. Britain’s most northerly creamery was originally set up to utilise the surplus which became available after the 60,000 service men who have been drafted to the island during the war year went home. Fascinating beginnings for what has become one of Britain’ s most prized cheeses which possesses a traditionally savoury flavour finely balanced by the buttery richness of the cream.
Cheese lovers rave about the Mull of Kintyre Extra Mature Scottish Cheddar. Located on the remote Kintyre Peninsula off Scotland’ s extreme west coast, the Campbeltown Creamery has been making cheese since the early 1900’s using milk from local dairy herds. The quality and taste of the award-winning cheddar is said to be enhanced by the ‘angel’s share’ of whisky still lingering in the building since its days as a distillery. The company’s Mull of Kintyre Extra Mature Scottish Cheddar was named Best Scottish Cheese at the 2005 British Cheese Awards.
Black Isle Brewery
The Black Isle Brewery began in 1998, when founder and managing director David Gladwin set out to make top quality organic beers that could stand side by side with the best in country. This small and intensely independent company is dedicated to producing quality beer in the heart of the Scottish Highlands.From start to finish this company is proud to promote eco-friendly choices. The beer itself is brewed from organically produced barley and hops, the packaging is fully recyclable making this a particularly environmentally friendly product and the labelling is deliberately contemporary to attempt to dispel any stereotyping of what it means to be organic. In addition, because the Black Isle Brewery does not use ‘finings’ in their brewing process, all their beers are suitable for vegetarians. With all these unique and beneficial factors, David believes that Black Isle Organic Beers are the best for both you and the environment. And you can try if for yourself, as Tesco’s currently stocked the Black Isle Organic Red Kite Ale 4.5% abv.
Border Biscuits
Surrounded by acres of beautiful, unspoiled Scottish countryside, Border Biscuits began its quest for a fresh tasting biscuit over twenty years ago. John Cunningham set up the business with his brother Paul. With the help of one mixer, one biscuit cutting machine, one oven and with one Glenys Middleton – their only member of staff - John baked while Paul packed and between them produced one hundred and fifty packets of biscuits a week.
Today, Border Biscuits has grown to employ over one hundred members of staff and produce in a purpose built factory over two million biscuits a week. Still baked the same way they now include a whole range of mouth-watering ingredients including butterscotch, rich milk chocolate, and juicy sultanas in the wide variety that they produce.
The consistent passion for a traditional home baked taste combined with its commitment to good, honest ingredients have earned Border Biscuits its unrivalled reputation and gained the company countless awards over the last twenty years, culminating in the Biscuit World Cup 2003!
The range available in Tesco stores includes "Vienesse Whirls", "Butterscotch Crisp" but the most popular by far are the Borders "Dark Chocolate Gingers".
Brown Brothers
A small family butchers shop in Biggar was the start of what is now known as Browns Food Group. Established in 1885 by two brothers, from these humble beginnings the company now boasts over 100 years experience in the production of quality cooked meats and delicatessen products.
Based in Sanquar in rural Dumfriesshire, Brown Brothers now produce a comprehensive range of high quality cooked and sliced meats which are unique and distinctive in flavour and character.
The company's dedication to innovation and commitment to exceptional quality allows Brown Brothers to consistently meet the changing needs of their customer’ s and provide a wide range of deliciously fresh products from succulent ham to tender poultry products.
Brown Brothers supply Tesco with its exclusive range of Scottish beef, pork and cooked ham.
Deeside Water Company Ltd
Nestled in the rolling hills of the Deeside Valley, not far from Balmoral Castle, the historic Pannanich Wells provide the source of Deeside Mineral Water. The water is naturally filtered for years through the ancient porous granite rock of the remote Highlands, where it is protected from the outside environment.
Founded in 1996, Deeside Water is a small, hands-on operation with only ten members of staff, where even the co-founder Martin Simpson still pitches in with loading lorries when the need arises for an extra pair for hands.
Deeside Water has an unusual combination of natural elements, which makes it beneficial for well-being. These unique properties have been well documented since the 18th Century and more recently were tested in clinical trials. The results were very positive, indicating a reduced disease activity and improvement in those suffering from rheumatoid arthritis.
As water is the basis of all life and also our largest single source of daily nutrition, it is essential to get the right water. This natural Scottish product is exceptionally pure with properties that make it different from other waters available.
Greenvale AP
Based in Duns in the heart of the Scottish Borders, Greenvale AP has been widely recognised as one of the UK's leading suppliers of fresh potatoes for over forty years.
Greenvale AP supply all Tesco Stores throughout Scotland with over 500 tonnes of tatties each week, expertly grown on farms across Scotland from Angus to the Borders with dedication, care and attention.
The earliest potatoes are harvested from Ayrshire where the warmth from the gulf stream and the light soil allows the cultivation of Epicure, a potato with a smooth white skin, creamy flesh, delicious boiled but even better baked in paper parcels with herbs and butter. An unrivalled salad potato is the Maris Peer and Greenvale’s own Vales Emerald which is an exciting cross between Maris Piper and Charlotte giving it a truly sumptuous taste. Excellent white potatoes for baking and mash are the Marfona and Saxon and the immensely popular red skinned Desiree.
With over 30 varieties of fresh potatoes available and the introduction of the Peruvian Mayan Gold and its organic variety "Lady Balfour" in honor of the founder of the Soil Association, Greenvale AP is on track to make sure that there’s the perfect potato for every use from chipping, boiling and roasting to mashing or baking.
Hamlyns
Hamlyns is part of a family food business which has over 14 generations of history in oat milling. Today their factory, which is located in the Banffshire countryside, is in the heart of Scotland’s oat growing country where the climatic and soil conditions are ideally suited to growing oats.
The company is proud that it is the only brand of porridge oats and oatmeal guaranteed to be 100% Scottish from seed to mill to finished product. The traditional skills of the miller are combined with the technology to bring a traditional quality product every time.
Three of Hamlyns products are widely available in Tesco stores throughout Scotland including Hamlyns Scottish Oatmeal, Hamlyns Socttish Porridge Oats and Hamlyns Pinhead Oatmeal as well as Tesco’s own label porridge oats which are perfect for porridge, flap jacks, crumble toppings and an array of other recipes.
Highland Game
New to Tesco stores this autumn is Highland Game. From their Dundee base Highland Game was founded by Christian Nissen in 1997 and since then has striven to source prime, quality assured venison from throughout Scotland.
Wild venison is as organic as only a wild animal can be. Highland Game's Venison is from the majestic red deer allowed to roam free and graze as nature intended. Their wild venison is also fully traceable and come from fully sustainable stocks, straight from 'hill to plate'.
To date the company has won a number of accolades at the Scottish Food & Drink Excellence Awards and have recently been endorsed with the ‘healthy living’ stamp from the Scottish Executive, making Highland Game the first ever food product to be endorsed in this way.
This is a terrific natural product that is bursting with flavour, yet low in cholesterol and saturated fats, as well as being high in essential minerals and protein. Venison offers a versatile and healthy alternative to other more traditional meals.
Tunnock's Ltd
Over one hundred years of 'Pride in our Products' has established Tunnock’s as a Scottish household name synonymous with their famous Caramel Wafers, Caramel Logs, deliciously light fluffy Snowballs and scrumptious Tunnocks Teacakes!
From a humble beginning as a small bakery in Uddingston bought by Thomas Tunnock for the huge sum of £80, the company has grown to over 550 members of staff and is now run by Thomas’s grandson Boyd Tunnock and his family.
This iconic Scottish company not only supplies Tesco stores in Scotland and the rest of the UK but is also enjoyed in 30 countries across six continents and recently picked up Europe’s prestigious Candy Kettle Award.
Although continually growing and developing as a company, Tunnock’s management has remained true to the original principles and is close to the local community.
RR Spink & Sons
"Arbroath Smokies" – are a truely unique Scottish delicacy from the historic fishing town of Arbroath where the Spink family have been involved in producing smokies for generations. For over three hundred years they have handed down this traditional craft of meticulously selecting and preparing fish by hand before smoking it to perfection over smouldering oak chippings to enhance the flavour and produce a succulent texture.
Smoking fish has been a long established process that is steeped in tradition and is a cornerstone of Arbroath’s continual culture. Today ‘Arbroath Smokies’ are famous throughout the world and in March 2004 were actually awarded PGI status, which specifies that only those Smokies which have been produced within a 5 mile radius of Arbroath town centre and which have been produced by follow a specific smoking process are permitted to be called "Arbroath Smokies".
This traditional fresh Scottish product, steeped in provenance and with its time-honoured processes is guaranteed to deliver on flavour and texture every time. This Scottish favourite can be found in Tesco stores through out Scotland, along with their Hot Smoked Salmon Slices.
Sangs (Banff) Ltd
Sangs is a Scottish family-owned soft drinks manufacturer based at Macduff on the Moray Firth coast. Founded in 1896 the company has come a long way when Miss Sang ran a tiny carbonated drinks shop on Aberdeen’s Union Street, selling hand-filled bottles of lemonade, tonic water and ginger beer from a horse and cart.
Today the company is run by three brothers John, James and Robert Donald whose father joined the company in 1932 at the tender age of 13 and who later purchased the company.
However, the most important date in time is the discovery of the previously ‘lost’ well of Tarlair in 1996. This well is the source of naturally filtered Highland spring water and is documented as far back as 1740 as having health-giving properties.
All the company's products use this unique water source including its award winning “MacB” sugar free naturally flavoured spring water drink - welcomed by parents throughout the country as a healthier alternative to fizzy drinks.