BOSSES at the island’s abattoir are hoping that a crucial inspection will give it a clean bill of health – and lead to Manx meat going back on the shelves at Tesco’s store.
The supermarket giant stopped stocking Manx meat in February after an inspection raised concerns about auditing standards and the physical state of the meat plant.
This resulted in fears for the future of the government-owned meat plant if it were to lose the Tesco contract altogether.
Following urgent talks in London with Tesco’s technical director, it had been hoped that local meat would go back on the shelves within a fortnight.
But Agriculture Minister Phil Gawne MHK admitted that there had been ‘a bit of a delay’ until Tesco’s senior auditor became available to carry out the inspection. He said this, however, would now take place in the week beginning April 30.
Optimistic
Meat Plant chief executive John Dawkins said he was optimistic that the audit would go well and result in Tesco stocking Manx meat again. He said: ‘We’ve been ready for some time to receive the woman in charge of auditing at Tesco.
‘All the work that she pointed out has been done. Obviously there is more refurbishment to do to the plant over a two-year period, but I am hopeful.’
The price of processing at the Tromode abattoir is being blamed for more livestock being exported for slaughter.
Isle of Man Meats has warned that the meat plant could close altogether without government investment.
And bosses at Shoprite, which continues to stock Manx meat, say that a viable solution needs to be found.
It is understood that, between them, the contracts with Tesco and Shoprite account for 70 per cent to 80 per cent of the meat plant’s output.