Dalbeattie Fine Foods – February 2012

His business – Dalbeattie Fine Foods – was established with a single minded drive to be the best. Some might say it was the arrogance of youth, after all opening your own butcher's shop on your 19th birthday is a rare achievement. However Dalbeattie Fine Foods has grown and thrived, and the focus of Alan and his team on product development and product excellence is at the heart of the business's success.

Alan took over an established business in a town of just under 5000 where he had two other butchers for competition. For the teenager to move from his home near Cookstown in County Tyrone couldn't have been easy but Alan engrossed himself in his work and was fortunate to get early reward for his hard work.

Winning awards for his products immediately propelled Dalbeattie Fine Foods into the limelight. Business benefitted after the initial recognition for his Pork & Garlic and Pork & Haggis Sausages in the 2006 SFMTA Speciality Sausage Evaluation.

That was just the start however in 2007 Alan picked up the Scottish Championship title for both Haggis and Steak Pies. On top of that the Irishman then lifted the Scottish title for the best Black Pudding and the UK Young Butcher of the Year. This two year period when he won just about everything there was to be won was not just good luck. Alan claimed:-“It came about through a mixture of being passionate about the business and my own drive and enthusiasm.”

With his youth and Irish background, Alan's success attracted a great amount of attention. Local and national press, television news, BBC Landward, Look Around and several foreign TV companies have all taken the 12 miles down the A711 from Dumfries to Dalbeattie to cover this extraordinary achievement.

The Prince's Scottish Youth Business Trust have been a great support to Alan and he has been named in the top 100 most successful businesses to be assisted by that organisation. They too have honoured his work, naming him Dumfries & Galloway's top young entrepreneur at the regional finals of the 2010 Prince's Scottish Youth Business Trust 'Young Entrepreneur of the Year' Awards.

After many months of planning and consideration Alan gave Dalbeattie Fine Foods a facelift in November 2010. His front shop area measured only 16 feet by 17 feet but he maximised his selling space with the installation of a new Multi Deck and a 15 foot Eurocryor Summer refrigerated cabinet supplied by Watco.

The shop closed on the Saturday night and re-opened the following Wednesday after stripping the walls, ceiling, floor and fittings. Over the next three days the walls were framed and tiled, the floor was tiled and new units and lighting installed.

Customers admired the smart new look and congratulated Alan for his confidence to invest in their town. It certainly now stands out as one of the most modern shops in Dalbeattie.

Product visibility is better now and sales of steak pies in particular have rocketed as a result. The multi deck holds all sorts of kitchen ready goodies to tempt the browsing customer with the range including ready prepared potatoes and prepared root vegetables.

Alan now employs two full time butchers and four part timers. They trade Monday to Saturday from 8.00am until 5.00pm and their vibrant counter trade is complemented by wholesaling haggis and black pudding and by online sales.

Alan feels that the online potential is huge. He has built up a large database of customers by exhibiting at the BBC Good Food Show and at the Royal Highland Show. Customers do travel great distances to buy at Dalbeattie Fine Foods so online sales are a natural progression.

The future is likely to see more special offers predicts Alan, who recognises as well that his customers are looking for smarter marketing. He has ventured into the low cost milk market to generate regular visitors but is clear in his mind that his customers are attracted through his door for the unique personal service, quality and value for money that is demanded these days.

At Dalbeattie Fine Foods the exceptionally comfortable shopping environment provides a stage where Alan and the two Brians take on the leading roles. No doubt encouraged by celebrity Alan's Irish craic, the theatre is good and more importantly the meat and meat products are of star quality too.

Attachments:

• TheDalbeattieStar.pdf