New company to launch soon
New company to launch soon
UK SHEEP producers will soon be offered an opportunity to invest in Farmers Fresh, a soon-to-be launched sister company of Farmers Ferry.
The new company will be supplying meat on the hook, having uncovered new opportunities and demand, said its chief executive David Owen, speaking at its launch at SIA (News, Mar 3) in Paris.
Markets have been established in France and Switzerland already. These markets want traditional quality British lamb, similar to our supermarket trade, he said.
However, Mr Owen believes that other marketing opportunities exist in Europe but that the UK still has much to learn in understanding customer requirements.
"There are many local and regional variations in what customers are looking for across the Continent, and the UK has a long way to go to understand this."
The new company, which is expected to be launched in early summer, will be customer driven, said Mr Owen. Its launch will also be an opportunity for producers to invest in Farmer Fresh; but unlike Farmers Ferry, where those who pledged money to get it afloat saw no return, there will be some recompense.
Its intention is to prioritise stock from its shareholders and this will be reflected in the way it procures meat, said Mr Owen. Despite the company operating from an abattoir in the Midlands, it hopes to source stock from all over the UK, he added.