James Macsween, Managing Director at Macsween, tells us about the importance of haggis to Burns and how Macsween has benefited from it.
January 25th is one of Scotland’s most celebrated dates and an annual tribute to our National Bard. When Scottish writer, Robert Burns wrote his poem ‘Address to a Haggis’, he could never have imagined that it would be shared every year in one of Scotland’s most celebrated occasions; Burns Night. After Burns’ death in 1796, his friends organised a Burns Supper in his honour and the tradition continues to this day.
Many people think haggis originates from Scotland, but in fact haggis is a delicacy that has been enjoyed by all cultures for thousands of years, as the celebratory meal following a hunt. It was really Burns’ poem that cemented it firmly in Scotland’s history and culture and ensured the two be synonymous with each other around the world. Haggis is the centrepiece of the Burns Supper, being traditionally enjoyed with neeps and tatties, followed by more poetry and plenty of Scottish dancing.
When people think of haggis, they think of Macsween. We’re the leading producer of haggis and have been for the past 60 years. Macsween is actually a third generation family company, established as a butchers shop in Edinburgh in the 1950s, where the first Macsween Haggis and Black Pudding was made. It was in 1983, that my father saw an opportunity to specialise in the manufacture of haggis, which then led to the first vegetarian haggis being made in 1984. We really started focusing on selling haggis into England & Wales in the early 80s. We’ve always sold our haggis overseas, sending it with other goods by aeroplane to people overseas who loved the Macsween brand. As Scotland’s leading haggis producer, we sell haggis in little pockets across the globe to the various extensions of Scottish communities around the world.
Only 30% of our sales are in the build up to Burns, so there are plenty that see haggis as a staple to consume all year round, not just the 25th January. The meaty delicacy can be enjoyed in a variety of ways. We’re always recommending delicious recipes to our customers from haggis nachos, to lasagne and pizza. We’re also adapting haggis to suit the variety of lifestyles and dietary requirements followed today. Our Vegetarian Haggis currently makes up 20% of our sales and we’ve just launched Gluten Free Haggis this January, which is certified by Coeliac UK and has been given the seal of approval from Michelin star chef Tom Kitchin. This gives sufferers of coeliac disease the chance to enjoy haggis at Burns, without compromising on taste.
So no matter how you celebrate Burns this year, enjoy your haggis and remember, there’s always plenty of recipe inspiration available to keep you going throughout the year: http://www.macsween.co.uk/