Dingwall-based butcher John M Munro Ltd declines to retender for Highland Council school canteens' contract
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AN expanding Ross-shire butcher which has had a presence in the county for a century has decided not to tender to renew its contract with Highland Council.
The firm, which last year expanded into Inverness during a £1 million revamp of its abattoir and cutting plant in Dingwall, has supplied meat to school canteens across the Highlands for 40 years.
Schools are being advised to stock up in the meantime as Highland Council looks to find an alternative supplier after the Easter holidays.
The development is a blow to the local authority which is under pressure from rising costs and inflation amid ongoing complaints about Scottish Government funding.
Any hurdles in securing a new supplier could hit school meals, including for children from the most vulnerable households.
The council is responsible for supplying free school meals to all children in P1-P4 but also to those whose parents or guardians claim income support or Universal Credit.
It is not clear why Dingwall-based John M Munro Ltd – which also has branches in Beauly, Muir of Ord, Fortrose and Tain – declined to tender for the contract but the move effectively ends a 40-year association with the council.
Munro's managing director, Charlie Munro, said the firm was “grateful” to have worked with the local authority for so long and wished it well in finding a new supplier, adding had it twice extended the contract during the height of the Covid pandemic.
“John M Munro Ltd has been supplying fresh meat to Highland Council’s school kitchens for more than 40 years,” he said. “However, we decided not to tender for the latest contract when it fell due for renewal.
“Nothing was cancelled, and in fact the old contract was extended twice to ensure that deliveries continued right through the Covid pandemic.We are very grateful to have had such a long association with the ‘Dinner Ladies’ and we wish them well with their new supplier.”
A Highland Council spokeswoman said: “The council is working hard to secure an alternative supplier for butcher meat products for schools following the Easter holiday period, and hope to confirm these arrangements shortly.
“As a precautionary measure, schools have been advised to increase their reserve stock and the council will provide an update to schools when further information is available.”
Chairman of the education committee, Councillor John Finlayson, said: “It is disappointing to hear that a long-established company like Munro’s is not working with the council in the future.
"I was a pupil in Broadford Primary School in the early '60s when Munro’s started operating in Broadford and I have long admired the growth of the company and the great service they have given the council and it is sad to see the long association come to an end.”
Last April, the company took over Duncan Fraser & Son's well-known Inverness shop in Queensgate.
Mr Munro said at that time: "We've seen quite a return to high street shopping. I think the future for small independent shops is quite bright, and that is one of the things that gave us the confidence to make the investment and take the plunge and get involved with the Inverness shop."
He said the takeover is part of wider plans which have seen it secure £1 million in funding to revamp its Dingwall abattoir as it seeks to grow sales within Grampian and the central belt.
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