Day 078 - 26 Jan 95 - Page 41


     
     1        not used any Hilton meat since about 1988.  Now, if you
     2        like, I will tell you what the Hilton scheme.
     3
     4   Q.   When were you getting beef from Canada and the United
     5        States of America?
     6        A.  In the early 80s under the Hilton scheme.
     7
     8   Q.   When did you stop?
     9        A.  1988.
    10
    11   Q.   1988.  So, in actual fact, this information was out of date
    12        when you printed it?
    13        A.  Yes, but it may have come back in again.
    14
    15   Q.   So there is nothing to stop you using beef from Canada and
    16        the USA if that is what you want to?
    17        A.  No.
    18
    19   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  I think when you ask a question like that,
    20        which is why I asked the question about whether the LOME
    21        scheme beef from Botswana up to 1984 went to McDonald's
    22        outlets, you have to make it clear (because until you tell
    23        me otherwise I am just concerned with McDonald's) whether
    24        your questions relate to McDonald's or generally.  For
    25        instance:  "There is nothing to stop you using beef from
    26        Canada and the USA if that is what you want to?"  Answer:
    27         "No". "But what about McDonald's?"  Do you see?
    28
    29   MS. STEEL:  Yes.
    30
    31   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  So I can see how the answer relates to
    32        McDonald's.
    33
    34   MS. STEEL:  This pamphlet is about your partnership with
    35        McDonald's?
    36        A.  Yes.
    37
    38   Q.   So there was nothing to stop you using USA Canada beef to
    39        supply McDonald's?
    40        A.  No.
    41
    42   Q.   There was not, right.
    43        A.  Can I elaborate on that, my Lord?
    44
    45   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  Please.
    46        A.  The Hilton scheme is a scheme which is designed to
    47        bring in from the United States of America prime and choice
    48        beef, the top quality beef.  It is called the Hilton scheme
    49        because it is virtually designed to get New York strip loin
    50        steaks into top quality restaurants.  Brussels gives a 
    51        tonnage per year on the Hilton scheme.  If the tonnage is 
    52        not taken up on prime cuts, the quota tonnage is available 
    53        for general trading.
    54
    55        Occasionally, you can get a quota tonnage and bring in, for
    56        example, flanks from Montreal.  But you can only get Hilton
    57        scheme tonnage when it is not taken up with what it was
    58        designed for, prime choice meat coming in for the
    59        restaurant trade.  When you do bring it in, you can only
    60        bring in prime choice flanks.

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