OUR STORY
Providing exceptional Scottish produce for 124 years
In 1898 William Sloan founded W. Sloan Butcher in Dumbarton East. He was later joined by his son John, and the company became W & J Sloan Family Butchers. Experts in their trade and supplying only the highest quality hand selected produce, the business grew quickly with multiple stores opening throughout Dumbarton.
When war was declared in 1939 W & J Sloan had to step up their game. Meat became scarce and when rationing was introduced in 1940 William, John and their incredible team worked tirelessly to ensure that local families had enough to eat. A scarcity of meat wasn't the only challenge the company faced during the war - in 1941, during the Clydebank Blitz, a stray bomb struck a number of buildings on Glasgow Road and the Dumbarton East flagship store was reduced to rubble. Determined to be there for the locals relying on them for food, William and John opened a brand new store in Dumbarton East to replace the one they lost - only 2 months after the bombing!
The Dumbarton East store staff, 1920s.
Derek outside the Alexandria store.
Business continued to grow, and in 1956 John's son William joined the company. William learned his trade straight out of school and was soon managing the Dumbarton East store. William's own son, Derek, also joined the company on leaving school, following in his father, grandfather and great grandfather's footsteps. The business is now in it's 4th generation.
Derek opened W & J Sloan's current store in Alexandria in 1995, almost 100 years after the opening of the original store. He works with Hugh, a skilled butcher who has been with the company for many years.
W & J Sloan's mission back in 1898 was to provide fresh Scottish produce of the highest quality. We have been fulfilling this mission for 124 years - and 4 generations later, it's still our mission today!