South Devon meat producer joins forces with Surrey firm

South Devon charcuterie and smoked meat brand Rare & Pasture has is merging its business with Weybridge-based charcuterie company Tempus Foods.

Tempus is owned by Masterchef finalists Tom Whitaker and Dhruv Baker and the aim is to expanding production and sales of both of their award-winning products. 

By bringing together the skills and facilities of both businesses, the partnership creates both unparalleled product expertise and unique production scale within the British charcuterie sector.

The merged business will continue to trade under both the Rare & Pasture and Tempus Foods brands, with sales and distribution being led from the Tempus location in Weybridge, Surrey, and production and packing shared between the two sites. 

Rare & Pasture is based at Fowlescombe Farm, a regenerative farm in South Devon. 

It produces a range of exceptional charcuterie products using high-welfare meat from its own farm and from other farms that share its values and care. 

In addition to its charcuterie, Rare & Pasture produces a highly successful range of cooked meat products, some of them organic, including naturally smoked frankfurters.

A key objective of the merged business will be to make this range available through the combined Tempus Foods sales channels.

Tom and Dhruv got to know one another after both appearing on the BBC series Masterchef UK and set up Tempus Foods together in 2017. 

They are committed to utilising the food chain responsibly and use their technical knowledge and passion for flavour to create exceptional tasting products. Their range includes salamis and whole muscle products such as King Peter Ham, Smoked Coppa and Bresaola. 

The focus of the two companies is to supply trusted, ethically-sourced meat and meat products that are not just tastier and healthier to eat but also better for the planet, for farmers and their animals.

Dhruv Baker, commercial director said: “The growth of Tempus has been constrained in the past by the size of our production facilities and our access to working capital.  By combining with Rare & Pasture, we remove these bottlenecks and position ourselves to better serve the fast-growing UK charcuterie market.  Through this merger we will continue to make the well-loved products that both businesses have become known for and have greater potential to expand our range into related cooked meat products.

“Each side of this transaction has been hugely impressed by what the other has to offer, and we very much look forward to working together. It’s the perfect partnering of two successful, ethical charcuterie brands.”

Andrew Owens, Chairman of Rare & Pasture commented: “The British charcuterie and artisan meat product market is highly fragmented, leading to an unnecessarily high cost base, often combined with supply reliability issues. Through this transaction we are creating greater supply capacity as well as product and customer service synergies that can accelerate the development of this evolving British food sector.  

“Our mission is not restricted to either our existing geographic situation or our existing product range, and so it is hoped that this merger will also stimulate other like-minded artisan producers and farmers to offer their skills and products into our growing portfolio.”