New butchery to create Scotland’s first lamb biltong

SCOTLAND’s first lamb biltong could soon be produced in Shetland – with new jobs set to be created too.

J & G Shetland Ltd, which owns Sound Service Station, is set to start production at its butchery premises in Lerwick next month.

The company has secured £24,000 funding from Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) for specialist equipment required to produce a range of biltong.

Biltong is a ready to eat snack in the form of dried, cured meat, and it originates from South African countries. It is similar in style to jerky but with different ingredients and production processes.

J & G plans to use high quality Shetland produced beef and lamb in its biltong. It will initially be available for sale in Shetland, then for onward sale to the UK market.

With no other producers commercially producing lamb biltong, this will be a new product in Scotland and it will be aimed at the growing health snack and other markets.

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The company’s butcher manager Jay Joubert is originally from South Africa, and has expertise in producing biltong.

He will be responsible for overseeing production at the premises at Rudda Park in Lerwick and will be joined by two full-time equivalent staff as the project progresses.

HIE senior development manager John Mackenzie said: “This exciting project will enhance Shetland’s already impressive food and drink offering, and the sector’s production capability.

“It will also create new job opportunities and help J &G Shetland move into the fast growing healthy snack market.”

J&G Shetland Ltd owner Jordan Thomason said: “We are very excited to be working alongside HIE in this new venture and are looking forward to launching our high-quality local product.

“Biltong is something that Jay has introduced us to and we are confident that with his skill and previous knowledge of producing biltong that our product will be a success not only in Shetland but further afield as well.”