Black pudding maker retires

29 September 2015

One of the producers of the famous Stornoway black pudding has stopped production for the last time.

Alex France and Sons butchers in the town’s Westview Terrace has ceased trading after nearly four decades of operation.

It’s the end of an era for the France family which also ran a bakery next door for many years.

Though retiring, Billy France, son of the original owner, refuses to give away his secret black pudding recipe.

The Stornoway Black Pudding has European Union legal protection from fake products. Impostors often use the term "Stornoway style black pudding" but angry island butchers pointed out they were misleading consumers and supplying non-genuine products of lower quality and different flavour.

The disappearance of the Alex France “marag dhubh,” as it is known in Gaelic, means there are now only four butchers in the world making the authentic delicacy.

Billy France said: “I am feeling quite sad to be leaving. I’ve been here for nearly 40 years and have enjoyed it.”

The bakery was set up first around 1970 and a couple of years later Alex France took over the butchery premises.

Billy - then a newly-trained butcher - was employed to supervise the shop. Since his father retired 30 years ago he has run it himself.

Over the years, new housing has been built around the area but so has competition from a nearby large supermarket.

Customers’ shopping habits have changed and the number of traditional butchers around the town dwindled from around a dozen to just five and now only four as Billy finally hangs up his apron.

But 63-year-old says he is delighted that the premises will be taken over by a rival black pudding maker.

Increasing demand means Macleod and Macleod of Church Street, Stornoway, will occupy the building to ram up production of their own renowned pudding products.

They will also provide a traditional butcher’s service to the neighbourhood.

Billy France said: “I used to work for them at one time.

“I served my time with Willie Macleod - Kenneth Macleod’s (the present proprietor) father - and then came up to Westview Terrace when my father purchased this building.

“I wish Kenneth well. I know he will do well because there’s a good custom in this area.”

Despite the decline in local shops in the face of pressure from supermarkets, many islanders prefer “going to a local butcher and being served personally.”

Billy France