BUTCHER Simon Howie has chosen St Andrew’s Day to announce big four supermarket chains Sainsbury, Tesco, Morrisons and Asda will stock what he says is “the world’s first widely-available gluten-free haggis” ahead of Burns Night. His new gluten-free haggis will be available in supermarkets and for all his food service customers from next month.

Simon Howie estimates that the gluten-free haggis, which will be offered for sale in the same 454g format as his vegetarian and original haggis, will account for more than £300,000 of business in the year ahead out of more than £3 million of total haggis sales for the year.

Mr Howie said: "While there is a significant demand for gluten-free foods from coeliacs, we are also confident that this new product will appeal to a wider number of healthy eaters.

“Crucially, our gluten free haggis tastes just as good as our original best-selling product. The taste, texture, bite and the look of the gluten-free version are the equal of our original haggis."