Key 'steakholder'? Investment firm Inverleith buys majority share in high-end butcher brand

Consumer brand focused Inverleith LLP has made the investment, terms of which have not been disclosed, in Farmison & Co, hot on the heels of it also taking a majority stake in the Eden Mill St Andrews craft gin, beer and whisky company.

The investment firm says Farmison, which was established in 2011 by John Pallagi and Lee Simmonds in the North Yorkshire Dales, is the UK’s leading player in the growing online premium meat and butchery market, with an ethical, sustainable supply chain.

Based in Ripon, it focuses on a diverse range of quality cuts, maturation and recipe inspiration from British heritage and rare breeds. It says its meat is always British, free-range, naturally fed and dry-aged, with the firm stating that it 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.

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

He said that with Inverleith LLP on board, Farmison can look forward to a “bright” future. “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.