Dig deeper into the history of Jaffy's Smokehouse and our evolving business.
In 1944, our original family business of Lawrie & Sons was formed by George Lawrie of Mallaig - affectionately known throughout the quays and harbours of Scotland as “Jaffy”. He acquired his knowledge of smoking and curing fish from his father as they followed the shoals of herring all around the coasts of Britain.
Eventually, he in turn passed on his craft to his two sons, George and Archie. They later built the smokehouse that we still use to this day, whilst simultaneously building a great reputation of quality and service throughout the Highlands and beyond.
Jaffy's highly regarded legacy has now been handed down to a third generation of the Lawrie family. Also George Jeffrey (after his grandfather) but known as Jeff, he carries and upholds the secrets of long, gentle curing, as well as the complex and traditional ways of sealing in the unique flavour of a fish which, combined, make the deliciously smoked fish that our customers enjoy so much today.
Our methods
Having taken over the business in the early 90’s, Jeff and his wife Shona continue to produce the highest quality products using the traditional methods of the family. Over the years, we have won several national awards from the Guild of Fine Food, most notably for our speciaility Mallaig Kippers. We're also proud to have been named UK Scottish Speciality Food of the Year in 2011, 2014 and 2016.
Jeff, like his ancestors, has again passed the unique and fading art of traditional smoking on to his four children who will carry the methods forward to future generations. All our smoked foods are produced in small batches so that everything is kept fresh, and we handcraft each piece of fish in our smokery - something which requires lots of skill and endless patience. With many of our smoked foods having won great-taste awards, we always remain motivated to strive for higher levels of perfection when it comes to our products so that you can enjoy them as much as we do.
So, who are Jaffy's today?
Being the only traditional kipper yard remaining in Mallaig, continuing the traditional process of smoking and curing Scottish herring on the harbour is a privilege. Right in the heart of the village, you will find our speciality Seafood Deli, stocking a wide range of Scottish Speciality foods and gifts as well as our own smoked seafood products, from fish to shellfish, fresh to cooked.
We source all of our herring from sustainable sources, always those caught in Scottish waters landed at ports as near to our smokehouse as possible. This protects stocks and the environment, whilst ensuring that the herring we use is the freshest it can be in order to produce a truly remarkable smoked product. As a sustainable fish, herring are on the Marine Conservation Society’s list of recommended fish to eat. Rich in heart healthy omega 3, our Kippers and Salmon are not only a tasty treat but are a natural health food rich in Selenium, vitamin B12, phosphorous, vitamin D and protein.
Right beside our deli, we have a tempting traditional fish and chip shop, open 6 days from April to November (Monday – Saturday). With the option to sit-in or takeaway, you can enjoy your fish supper on the harbour in the glorious surroundings of Mallaig or even sit in and watch the trains come and go - if you're a Harry Potter fan, you might be interested to know that you may catch a glimpse of the famous Jacobite Steam Train!
Visit our Seafood Deli to find out more about our smoked products and discover the range of fresh daily deli products ready for you to enjoy at home, or check out our full range by visiting our Online Shop.