Second Generation: John & Kate

John Macsween was Charlie and Jean’s eldest son.  He had always been passionate about his father’s business and, in 1957, on the day he left school, he began to work alongside his father.

Father and son enjoyed a great working relationship in the years they ran the business together as ‘Charles Macsween & Son’.  John learnt about running the business, while also having scope to develop his natural abilities in the manufacturing potential of haggis and other homemade products in the Macsween range.

When Charlie died in 1975 and the business passed to John, dynamic and challenging times were to follow.  Family life and eating habits were changing, and so was the way people shopped.  The growth of supermarkets threatened high street retailers and people were spending less time cooking traditional family meals in the kitchen.

However, John and his wife, Kate, saw opportunities in the specialisation of haggis.  The chance to present Macsween's haggis in Selfridges in the mid 1980s paved the way to take Macsween haggis to the London market.  The creation of the first vegetarian haggis in 1984 was yet another decisive moment that led to the next stage of expansion.  Kate’s vision and John’s practical ability were a winning combination.  ‘Macsween’ and ‘haggis’ became synonymous.

Sadly, John Macsween died in July 2006 after a life’s dedication to the business he loved so passionately.  As the many obituaries testify, John achieved a very special place in people’s hearts all over the world.  He elevated the status of our national dish to new heights and can rightly take his place as one of Scotland’s inspirational entrepreneurs.