Investor takes majority stake in premium online butcher

Inverleith LLP, an Edinburgh-based specialist consumer brand investor has acquired a majority stake in Farmison & Co, a Yorkshire-based online butcher.

Established in 2011 by John Pallagi and Lee Simmonds in the North Yorkshire Dales, Farmison focuses on a diverse range of quality cuts, maturation and recipe inspiration from British heritage and rare breeds.

The Ripon-based business is leading the return of pure British rare breeds across beef (such as Gloucester, Longhorn and White Park), British free range pork (such as Berkshire and Gloucestershire Old Spot) and lamb (such as Herdwick and Ryeland) to British tables.

It is committed to seasonal local food, backing responsible British farmers and smallholders.

The investment by Inverleith LLP will see the company push forward with its mission to introduce more consumers to the finest traceable and sustainably sourced beef, pork and lamb breeds from Britain, allowing more consumers to “eat better meat”.

Pallagi, founder and CEO, said: “We now have the backing to take the business to the next stage and for our mission to encourage more people to eat better meat.

”This is a pivotal moment not just for the future of Farmison but for the sector.

“We have spent time searching for the right partner to take our business forward and to realise our ambition of delivering better meat, ethically and sustainably sourced, from heritage and rare British breeds, to consumers up and down the country.

“This investment will help drive production standards across the wider sector, help educate consumers and help us explain more powerfully why better meat is better for customers, the planet and the long-term success of the farming sector in the UK.”

Following the investment, Pallagi will continue to lead the business as founder, supported by a new board of directors, and his existing management team.

Inverleith LLP chair, Ben Thomson, said: “As consumers adopt increasingly flexitarian diets, they are increasingly choosing high quality, great tasting meat which has a traceable, local supply chain, delivered ethically and supporting a sustainability agenda. All these elements have been set at the heart of Farmison & Co.

“The value and principles of Farmison strike a chord with modern day consumers and in Inverleith’s care, we will strengthen these product qualities and company values.”