The Scottish Haggis Website: On-line Haggis supplies from McKeans' of Scotland

It was not long before McKean's Haggis was being sent all over Europe and into the Supermarkets in the Far East but Gordon's principal desire, that of bringing McKean's Haggis to the States , continued to be hindered by USDA regulations which prevented his haggis from being imported. Whilst Gordon respected and understood the barriers that prevented his product from entering the States he began to look upon the trade barrier as an opportunity.

The opportunity crystallized following an email he received from Ron Thurston (pictured) of Maine (a descendant of the Clan Grant and beloved husband of his dear wife Issie who was born and educated in Glasgow) who wanted to purchase a haggis for a good friend. On hearing that he was not allowed to import Gordon's product he emailed Gordon back letting him know of his frustration and asking him what he was going to do about it! Gordon replied by asking " No Ron...what are WE going to do about it!" and so began the inspiration behind McKeans North America LLC . Before too long, Ron and Gordon had sourced a manufacturer, Messrs WA Bean and Sons in Bangor, Maine (a company that, rather coincidentally, began in 1860 - the same year the first McKean started plying his trade in Glasgow!). A company that was founded by descendents of John McBain who came to America from Inverness Scotland in 1612 as an indentured servant.


Company Profile

	Scottish Haggis in America. Wm. Gordon Wallace of McKean Foods in Glasgow, Scotland and Ronald Grant Thurston of McKean North America in Falmouth Maine are pleased to announce the formation of an American company to bring the real taste of Scotland to America. Completing a journey that began many years ago in Mingary on the Ardnamurchan Peninsula on the west coast of Scotland where the remains of the Mingary Castle still look southward over the Sound of Mull to Tobermary, McKean's Haggis made in the authentic Scottish way has finally reached the US. The family name of McKean came from one of the Glencoe McDonalds who fled westward to Ardnamurchan. He was an Ian McDonald and hence his son was known as McIan, which in time became McKean.

	More than hundred and forty years ago John McKean opened a butcher shop in Glasgow where he began the making of haggis and other traditional Scottish foods. From this grew a mini-empire with 12 retail outlets, a farm and a manufacturing unit. With the coming together of the grocery chains in the 60's and 70's, McKeans decided to move away from the retail side of the business and concentrate on their manufacturing prowess.

	William Watt McKean , fourth generation haggis maker in his family, has been the staunch protector of the McKean recipe, ensuring only the finest ingredients are sourced and used in the making of the McKean Haggis. The mixing and blending process has remained unchanged throughout ~ "Bill" McKean insistent that the process of manufacturing is every bit as important as the ingredients that go into it. Although officially "retired" he remains an integral part of the business as our official haggis-taster - if it doesn't get the nod from Bill it doesn't go out the door.

	William Gordon Wallace, a fifth generation haggis maker is no stranger to the traditional values so important to Haggis-making. More than 150 years ago Gordon's ancestors moved from the village of Straiton in Ayrshire, Burn's country, and set up shop as retail pork butchers in Glasgow's Argyle Street, becoming "friendly competition" to McKean's for over a century. "Wallace's Sausages" became the principal diet for Glaswegians during the 1900's and members of each of Gordon's past generations have continued in the Scottish Pudding-making tradition.

	It was not long before McKean's Haggis was being sent all over Europe and into the Supermarkets in the Far East but Gordon's principal desire, that of bringing McKean's Haggis to the States , continued to be hindered by USDA regulations which prevented his haggis from being imported. Whilst Gordon respected and understood the barriers that prevented his product from entering the States he began to look upon the trade barrier as an opportunity. The opportunity crystallized following an email he received from Ron Thurston (pictured) of Maine (a descendant of the Clan Grant and beloved husband of his dear wife Issie who was born and educated in Glasgow) who wanted to purchase a haggis for a good friend. On hearing that he was not allowed to import Gordon's product he emailed Gordon back letting him know of his frustration and asking him what he was going to do about it! Gordon replied by asking " No Ron...what are WE going to do about it!" and so began the inspiration behind McKeans North America LLC . Before too long, Ron and Gordon had sourced a manufacturer, Messrs WA Bean and Sons in Bangor, Maine (a company that, rather coincidentally, began in 1860 - the same year the first McKean started plying his trade in Glasgow!). A company that was founded by descendents of John McBain who came to America from Inverness Scotland in 1612 as an indentured servant.

	In November of 2003 Gordon Wallace came to the States with a suitcase full of Scottish oatmeal, barley, and spices and met up with David Bean ( pictured )....and so Gordon and David set about making a test batch of haggis using Scottish Cereals and prime US Lamb. That test batch was then offered as samples all over the US and among those to test our product was the Robert Burns Night supper in Greenville South Carolina. Here is what Thomas Mitchell who was in charge of the event said afterward: "How I wish that you could have been present during our Burns Night. You would have been proud for all those people involved in bringing your product to fruition. In my years as a member of the St. Andrews Society I have never heard such positive comments about haggis." Other comments from different groups around the country were equally positive. One of our favorite responses was from someone who said he "went back for seconds five times!!!"

	Obviously encouraged by the feedback the new alliance continued developing the product packaging, labeling etc and began trial sales throughout the US with awe-inspiring response. Fuelled with newfound enthusiasm, in November 2004 WA Bean's CEO David Bean visited McKean's plant in Scotland to learn first hand the art of Scottish haggis making (the picture above shows the historic moment when David made his first haggis on Scottish soil!). On hearing of the visit the Beans and Thurstons were invited to the Scottish Food Trades Association Dinner in Glasgow at which they were the Toast of the Town! Word was clearly spreading amongst those in the know - "Real Haggis comes in a skin - not in a tin...and is now available in North America"!

	And so it was cast in stone. Following the successful visit, Gordon has sent a larger secret recipe consignment of Haggis Spices and Scottish Oatmeal to Bangor with a supply of specially stitched casing that is unique to McKeans - in preparation for the craftsmanship of David Bean and his skilled team in Maine creating this most unique of Scottish dishes. Ready and armed for the Robert Burns Haggis Season in January 2005, McKean's North America can now exclusively offer to Clan Societies and individuals all across the United States the opportunity to enjoy authentic McKean's Scottish Haggis made to McKean's secret and carefully guarded recipe

Copyright © 2005 Mckeans. All rights reserved