Dingwall butcher John M Munro set to take on long-established business in Highland capital
THE takeover of a historic Highland business by a Ross-shire butcher will play a key role in its plans for future expansion, its managing director has said.
John M Munro, in Dingwall, is set to take over Duncan Fraser & Son's famous Inverness shop from mid-April, after its owner sold the family-run business to the Ross-shire company ahead of his retirement.
And Munro's managing director, Charlie Munro, believes that the two highly successful businesses will make for "a very nice fit in terms of the next stage of our retail development" as it looks to carry out further expansion in the coming decade.
Mr Munro said taking on the famous Queensgate site, which has been a cornerstone of the Highland capital's food trade for 110 years, was an "honour and privilege"
"It strikes me as an incredibly good fit," he said. "We've shops everywhere except Inverness and it just makes sense to move into the capital of the Highlands."
He added that the decades-long experience of the Inverness shop's staff will also work nicely into possible plans to bring on the next generation and "keep the skills alive", by helping to train up apprentices for employment across the wider company.
Mr Munro added that growth in support for small, independent shops during the pandemic lockdown also fills him with confidence going forward.
"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."
Mr Munro says 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.
