Butchers, bakers, and candlestick makers!

Shetland's crofting heritage, focus on low-intensity farming, and the preservation of native breeds of livestock and grain mean there is no shortage of excellent produce in the islands.

And with residents and visitors alike, keen to spend in local businesses, much of this produce is supplied to island butchers and bakers. When it comes to meat, the slower-growing breeds, adapted to the conditions at 60° North, develop better flavour than many others, and also have health benefits.

Local butchers work closely with Shetland farmers to ensure a supply of local meat is available over the counter. And if you want to purchase Shetland delicacies like reestit mutton or sassermaet, head to a butcher's shop.

While there is less grain produced in Shetland, many of the bakeries use traditional recipes passed down through the generations. Some of them use native grains like beremeal. Around Shetland, you'll find freshly baked loaves, bannocks and sweet treats.

Check out the list below to get the lowdown on Shetland's butchers and bakers. And we couldn't write this blog post without an honourable mention for Shetland's candlestick makers.

Thanks to Taste of Shetland for their help with this post.

Anderson's Butchers, Whiteness

The family-owned Anderson Butchers is has been providing quality, locally-sourced meat products since 1990. All their beef and lamb in Shetland is sourced from GB & AM Anderson’s farm in Kergord on the Westside of Shetland, just a couple of miles from the shop, which sells general groceries and supplies as well as meat.

Anderson’s butchers prepare a wide range of fresh produce daily - guaranteeing a quality product from farm to fork. The farm is also a Taste of Shetland member and is fully committed to maintaining the highest standards of animal welfare.

Their range of meat products includes handmade pies, pastries and a selection of cured and cooked meats, sassermaet and puddings. You will also find Anderson's meat products stocked in over 30 shops across Shetland, and served up in many local cafés and restaurants.

Sound Butchers, Lerwick

Sound Butchers Limited, established in 2020, is located at Rudda Park, Lerwick, selling a selection of meats and products. They also supply several independent retailers, restaurants, and cafes throughout Shetland.

Working closely with Scholland Farm and the Shetland Livestock Marketing Group, they aim to ensure their local beef, lamb and pork is of the highest quality.

They cook and slice deli meats onsite, for use in products like sandwiches and pasta pots, or pre-package them for sale.

Meat from their butchery is also used to produce “home-made” oven and microwave ready meals, and you'll also find pies and sausage rolls.

Sound Butchers, is run by a South African, and they produce their own range of the South African speciality, biltong.

Scalloway Meat Company, Scalloway/Lerwick

Scalloway Meat Company is a craft butcher’s that showcases the excellent local meat available to them. They support local farmers and the community by selling as much local produce as possible, helping support the local agricultural economy.

Their main shop and processing unit in Scalloway offers a full range of fresh meat prepared daily by their team of dedicated, skilled butchers. The shop is also a general store including their own pies, meals, salads and sandwiches. Scalloway Meat Co, also has a butcher shop in the Toll Clock Shopping Centre in Lerwick.

Locally produced lamb and beef is sourced all year round, and pork when possible, from crofts and farms throughout Shetland.

White, black and fruit puddings are prepared by hand and haggis is made in-house too, with gluten free and vegetarian options available. You can also buy a piece of Shetland’s ‘national dish’ - reestit mutton, which can also be sent by mail order.

Uradale Farm, Scalloway

Uradale produces Native Shetland beef and lamb, heritage breeds on their land overlooking Scalloway. Uradale has specialised in the hardy native Shetland sheep and kye, which are smaller than many commercial breeds.

However, Uradale focuses on creating a product with deep flavour and quality.

The farm aims to respect the natural ecosytems and biodiversity in Shetland and has been certified by the Scottish Organic Producers Association (SOPA) since 2001.

The farm’s sheep and cattle graze over large areas of natural pasture from heather-clad hills to herb-rich green coastlines. They are wintered on silage, produced on the farm. The flavour is naturally Shetland, full of character and flavour, and the animals are butchered on site.

Shetland Lamb is a Protected Designation of Origination product, Shetland Kye are listed as a Rare Breed, and both meats are listed as part of the Slow Food movement’s Ark of Taste register.

Mainland's Butchers, Dunrossness

J.K. Mainland’s farm is a family business in the fertile south mainland of Shetland. The whole family work hard to grow a wide range of vegetables, rear sheep and produce fresh local eggs. They sell their produce farm to fork through their Event Catering Trailer which is a familiar sight to anyone driving out the South Road in Lerwick. They have a permanent pitch in the Tesco supermarket car park and are also available for events around Shetland.

A selection of hot and cold food and drinks is available from the trailer. All the meat products are made using their own or locally sourced meat, butchered and prepared by them to make burgers, pies and hot rolls. You can also order meat packs to feed the whole family.

Mainland's also offers a veg box and meat pack delivery service.

The Traditional Butcher, Brindister

The Traditional Butcher specialises in private kill butchery and a unique range of retail products. Including traditional recipe sassermaet and an allergen-free range of products. Established in 2020. Alasdair brings 15 years of experience as a butcher – he has the highest craft butcher qualification – to deliver a unique, bespoke service to both his private and retail customers.

Based at Brindister Farm Gulberwick, The Traditional Butcher is Shetland's only dedicated private kill butcher who prepares, vac packs and labels the customers product ready - so they can collect and distribute as required.

Alasdair can provide services including steak ageing, bacon and gammon production, burgers and sausages, allergen and/or gluten free processed products to name but a few.

Zetland Bakery, Lerwick

The Zetland Bakery is a relatively new addition to Commercial Street. With fresh daily bakes of sweet and savoury pastries, bread, cookies, cakes and traybakes, their products can be purchased directly from their shop or in many other local shops.

So whether you fancy a sweet apple pie focaccia or a sausage roll, pop along and see what they've got cooking today.

Sandwick Bakery, Sandwick

One of Shetland’s oldest traditional family bakeries, Sandwick Baking Co. has been handcrafting breads, cakes and bakes for over 100 years. Often using traditional recipes handed down from generation to generation, the bakery prides itself on its traditional Shetland recipes. Water biscuits, butter biscuits, plain oatcakes, wheaten scones and traditional girdle bannocks are all made using the original recipes and methods that were in use when the bakery opened.

Sandwick Bakery still produces beremeal bannocks, too. These are made using the ancient grain, bere, once part of Shetlanders' staple diet, and similar to rye flour, and produces a flavoursome bannock. These are made using their original recipe, in large whole rounds or individual bannocks. You can also sample their artisan breads, cakes and fancies, or savoury pies and rolls.

The company also supplies shops, cafés and restaurants throughout Shetland.

Johnson and Wood (Da Voe Bakery), Voe

Johnson and Wood Ltd, also known as Da Voe Bakery, celebrated its centenary in 2015 and is as widely famed today for its bannocks, pies and biscuits as it once was for its unsliced white loaf and ship’s biscuits.

It is the oldest commercial bakery in Shetland and nestles at the heart of the beautiful village of lower Voe. It began life in 1915 at the request of the Royal Navy, whose men were bunkered at Swarbacks Minn. The Navy needed to feed hungry sailors who were part of a blockade operation to prevent supplies reaching Germany during the First World War. The Voe-based entrepreneurs T. M. Adie and Sons, saw an opportunity to diversify their business and started the bakery.

They have continued to supply bakery goods and you can find their bread, cakes, biscuits, bannocks, tattie scones and pies in country shops and all over Shetland. The celebrated 'Voe bannock' is an integral part of many celebrations in Shetland, from Wedding suppers to Up Helly Aa refreshments.

Skibhoul, Unst

Skibhoul Bakery is the UK's northernmost, producing baked goods from premises in Unst. Their General Stores stock everything an island community could need, from fresh Shetland fish and their own fresh bread to lightbulbs and trinkets.

Skibhoul bread, buns and biscuits can be found in many of the local shops all over Shetland.

What they are most famed for though,is their assortment of biscuits. The range includes slightly sweet, oatmeal biscuits, a crunchy ‘Coffee Bun’ and their Oceanic oatcakes. The latter are made using just three ingredients, including pristine Shetland seawater! They are wheat-free, contain no additives of any kind, and are Vegetarian Society approved.

Online sales are available for oatcakes, butter biscuits, coffee buns and the Balta Biscuit, made to an original ship's recipe. They've been served 'clined' with butter for over 130 years!

Da Kitchen Bakery, Yell

Da Kitchen Bakery is a traditional artisanal bakery supplying many Shetland retailers and cafes. Based in Yell, bread, pies, savouries, and confectionery are baked five days a week.

The bakery is proud to support other Shetland food producers and uses Shetland Farm Dairy produce, along with locally-made preserves, free-range eggs and - where possible - local meat. Started in Shetland five years ago, supplying just three outlets, we have grown at a rapid pace. We now supply across Shetland's mainland and islands in nearly 20 outlets, including Unst and Fetlar.

Simple ingredients and methods are used to deliver traditional loaves, free from additives and preservatives. They also make an enriched sweet fruit loaf using a traditional Lunn recipe, and fresh sweet and savoury scones and specialise in fresh cream cakes.

Pies and savouries are made from scratch, including a Shetland speciality - reestit mutton pie.

Doocot Artisan Bakery, Weisdale

Situated in Weisdale, Doocot began baking for local shops and cafes in early 2024. They offer a variety of breads not previously available in Shetland.

This micro bakery launched post-pandemic, offering owner Gordon the opportunity to exercise his great interest in baking bread. Gordon's passion lies in recreating international recipes he discovered while travelling – and he is keen to offer Shetland the flavours and variations of bread they may have enjoyed on holiday in their local shops.

Wild Coast Cakes, Scalloway

Another micro bakery specialising in sweet treats and goodies made with fresh, local ingredients, sold through an honesty box.

The box is filled regularly with goodies such as brownies, cakes, cookies and more, as well as having gluten free, dairy free and vegan options.

The Bread Nook, Brae

The Bread Nook is one of Shetland's newest artisan bakers, offering sweet and savoury breads. Based in Brae, owner Cami began baking bread as a hobby, but it turned into a passion, which grew into a home-based micro bakery.

Bread Nook loaves are available in Scoop Wholefoods, Lerwick, with fresh deliveries supplied twice a week. Orders are taken for collection in Brae.

Bigton Weekend Bakery, Bigton

The Bigton Weekend Bakery is a micro artisan bakery operating most weekends. Specialising in French baguettes, sourdough loaves, focaccia, cinnamon knots, croissants, pain au chocolate, pain au raisin, quiche and cheese twists. The bakery opens Saturday mornings at The Hymhus community hub in Bigton, from 9.30 am until 2pm (or until they've sold out).

In keeping with the traditional nursery rhyme, you can also find candlestick makers in Shetland.

Furniture maker Paparwark, based in Ireland near Bigton, has a selection of twisted candleholders, including some that are ingrained with Shetland peat.

Find the best places for Shetland Food and Drink.