Edinburgh Butcher Celebrates 60th Anniversary with Four Shilling Mince

An award-winning Edinburgh butchers’ business delighted its customers last week by offering a pound of Scotch Beef mince at 1958 prices, four shillings (20 pence), as part of a series of celebrations this month to mark its 60th anniversary.

A whopping 200lbs, just shy of 100kg, of mince was sold at Saunderson’s Quality Family Butchers at Tollcross on Friday afternoon. John Saunderson, third generation butcher and current owner of Saunderson’s, said: “We were delighted that starting our 60th anniversary celebrations by rolling back the price of mince to 1958, when it all started, proved so popular among our customers.”

Saunderson’s was founded in 1958 when W.G. Adams put his butcher’s shop in Leven Street, Edinburgh up for sale. The shop manager back then, John (Jack) Saunderson seized the opportunity and founded the butchery dynasty which has faithfully served the Edinburgh community with top quality meat for the past six decades. 

The business, which is celebrating with a month of special activities with customers and the local community, has been owned and operated by four generations of the same family.

The festivities will continue throughout June and beyond with Saunderson’s planning to hold open evenings to give customers a behind the counter look at the shop as well as the skill and craftmanship of the staff.

Innovation is still top of the agenda after 60 years, with Saunderson’s working on plans to open pop-up shops in the offices around their Leven Street shop, bringing their butchers right to the customers with breakfast and steak packs on offer.

In a special tribute, retired butcher Mike Shaw re-joined the team behind the counter on Friday following his retirement in 2017 after working in the shop for 43 years. Mr Shaw was delighted to return to the shop to be part of the special celebrations.

“The butcher’s shop in Tollcross is such a big part of my life so its great to be able to celebrate with everyone and catch up with many of our regular customers,” said Mr Shaw

Sanderson’s are longstanding members of the Scotch Butchers Club, run by Quality Meat Scotland (QMS), and are proud to sell Scotch Beef PGI, Scotch Lamb PGI and Specially Selected Pork from suppliers who adhere to the quality standards required by Quality Meat Scotland’s Quality Assurance Schemes.

Graeme Sharp, Manager of the Scotch Butchers Club said: “Serving the community for 60 years is a fantastic achievement. Saunderson’s are well known for using great quality, locally sourced meat, such as Scotch Beef and Scotch Lamb, and continue to produce fantastic, innovative products’ said Mr Sharp.

“Congratulations to John Saunderson and the team at Saunderson’s - I wish them continued success for the next 60 years and beyond,” he added.

For more information on the Scotch Beef PGI, Scotch Lamb PGI or to find your nearest Scotch Butchers Club member visit www.scotchkitchen.com or follow Scotch Kitchen on Facebook or Twitter.