John Angus Macsween (17 October 1939 – 12 July 2006) was a Scottish butcher and entrepreneur who helped popularise haggis as an international dish.[1]

Macsween came from a family of butchers in Edinburgh, where he noted the popularity of haggis among English rugby fans attending international matches at Murrayfield Stadium.[1] After taking over the family business in 1975, the subsequent popularity of their haggis led to his opening the world's first purpose-built haggis factory, and the sale of the butchers company.[1] In the 1970s Macsween took samples to London, and soon received orders for Macsween haggis from major buyers including Selfridges, Harrods, and Fortnum & Mason.[1]

Macsween started to produce what was described as a vegetarian haggis in 1984, after a request from the Burns Supper at the Scottish Poetry Library.[1]

Macsween married Kate Mackay, the daughter of a former Lord Provost of Edinburgh, in 1964. His wife and his four children survived him at this death,[1] and Macsween haggis continued to be produced,[2] sold under both the Macsween name and as supermarkets' own brands.[3]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Brian Wilson (2 August 2006). "John Macsween". The Guardian. Retrieved 14 January 2014.
  2. ↑ MacSweens Web site, accessed 14 August 2017
  3. ↑ "Macsween of Edinburgh Ltd recalls various products because of inadequate procedures to control Clostridium botulinum". Food Standards Agency. 14 July 2017. Retrieved 14 August 2017.
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