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A Butcher of the Future!

A GLASGOW business graduate is helping a Stranraer farmer become a butcher of the future, by selling his produce over the internet.

Caroline Laurie, a 22-year-old business management graduate of Glasgow University, was recruited in July by John Douglas, of Mains of Aires farm, to help market his business, Hereford Prime Direct.

Caroline's six-month placement, part of Scottish Enterprise's 'Grow Your Business with Graduates' scheme, appears to be paying dividends, with the company's delivery van travelling nationwide.

The company has been operating for around three years and, although many customers still order by the more traditional means of telephone, the internet service continues to grow. The meat itself is cut and packaged by an on-site butcher, then blast-frozen ready for delivery in the refrigerated van.

Hailing from New Cumnock, Ayrshire, Caroline says that life on the farm certainly offers a change of pace after four years of student life, but is also a great learning experience. She said:

"It's good to have so much autonomy - a lot of graduates go straight into big corporations, so it¹s nice to do something a bit different.

"Although I deal with the day to day stuff, like taking orders, my main job is to work on marketing and to try to target the kind of customers who we might appeal to".