Potato giant Albert Bartlett is set to move beyond fresh produce for the first time as it prepares to launch smoked salmon under its Scotty Brand.

Scotty Brand hot-smoked and cold-smoked salmon is due to go into the mults in spring 2013. The salmon will be supplied by Scotland’s Lion Speciality Food, with listings and pricing to be confirmed closer to launch.

Scotty Brand marketing manager Michael Jarvis said the brand’s core credentials of clear Scottish provenance, high quality and good value meant smoked salmon was a logical extension for Scotty Brand, which to date had been used only on fruit and vegetables. “Salmon is a product for which Scotland is extremely famous for and it meets all the values we want to promote,” he added.

In time, the Scotty Brand name would be extended to further quintessentially Scottish categories, such as oatcakes, venison, jams and preserves as well as - potentially - whisky and beer, Jarvis said.

Scotty Brand was set up by Albert Bartlett in 2010 and operates as a standalone company. At present, its product line-up comprises potatoes, carrots, lettuce and seasonal lines such as summer berries. Two prepared veg products for autumn/winter - Scotch broth mix and casserole mix - are shortly going back into Asda and will also be listed by Tesco.

Although strongly associated with Scotland, Scotty Brand products are now listed nationwide in Asda and Whole Foods Market, with regional Scottish listings in Morrisons and Tesco.

Jarvis would not reveal sales figures for Scotty Brand but said the company’s recent high-profile tie-up with Disney for the film Brave showed it was well-supported. “We spent a lot on doing Brave and I would expect us to spend a similar amount in 2013,” he said.

Topics