QMS Free Direct Retails Workshops – places still available

Internet sales of red meat are continuing to rise and now equate to 3.7% of the fresh red meat market, an increase of just under 1% in the past year. Kantar, the retail market research specialists, measured the value of online sales of fresh red meat at £118 million. 

Kathy Peebles, QMS Livestock Development Manager commented: “With the rising interest in locally produced food and food tourism, QMS is offering levy payers the opportunity to take part in free workshops which will help producers develop skills to enable them to diversify into the direct selling of red meat.” 

During October and November, QMS has arranged specialist workshops on Direct Retail and Charcuterie. The Direct Retail workshops will be led by Gordon Gibb and will focus on how to set up a red meat direct sales business. 

Kathy continued: “The courses are structured around questions from our levy payers, such as what are the legislative requirements? What equipment is needed? And how much mark-up should be added to have a profitable business?"

“The workshops will answer these and other questions and will define just what is required before expensive and sometimes unnecessary purchases are made.” 

The last in the series of workshops is all about Charcuterie and how to add value to manufactured products, including curing and smoking. There will be a hands-on morning session with the afternoon being given over to a demonstration where a range of continental styled products will be produced and available for evaluation. The different methods of preserving will be covered and like the previous two workshops, all participants will receive a course manual. 

Type Of Course

Location

2011 Date

Direct Retail

Inverness - Caledonian Football Club

Thursday 27 October

Direct Retail

Perth - McDiarmid Park 

Friday 28 October

Charcuterie - FULLY BOOKED.If you are interested, contact QMS regarding future courses.

Edinburgh-Newliston Cookery School, Newbridge. 

Thursday 10 November

 There are still some places available on the Direct Retail courses, so if you are interested in learning about this type of marketing or would like to receive further details, please contact either Kathy Peebles or Margaret Stewart on 0131 472 4040 or email info@qmscotland.co.uk with your name and telephone number, stating which course you would like to join.