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May 2023
Hot Seat: Bringing Ripon firm Farmison back to life
Shortly before Christmas, Andy Clarke heard rumours all was not well at Ripon firm Farmison & Co.
Having spent a career in retail, including six years as chief executive of Asda, Mr Clarke was aware of the company’s mission to ‘eat better meat’ and innovative business model, which had attracted clients including Harrods and Fortnum & Mason.
He was approached about getting involved but was busy at the time. He adds:
Farmison entered administration on April 6 — Maundy Thursday. The ensuing Easter drama ended, appropriately, with a resurrection when a consortium spearheaded by Mr Clarke acquired the business from the administrators just over two weeks later.
It prompted a collective sigh of relief in Ripon, where Farmison was one of the city's largest and most feted employers, with almost 100 staff and numerous awards.
Farmison will stay at Bondgate Green
Some former staff, who lost their jobs when administration happened, are being rehired and new ones are being sought as Farmison prepares to recommence trading within weeks.
What possessed Mr Clarke to get involved as executive chairman? He says:
From then, events moved rapidly.
Read more:
- Ripon firm Farmison to trade again after buyout completed
- Ripon firm Farmison begins hiring staff as it prepares for comeback
The four-strong consortium also includes Gareth Whittle, the founder and former managing director of Chilli Marketing. But not Farmison co-founder John Pallagi, who was heavily involved in the race to save the company until the last minute. Mr Clarke says:
Mr Clarke says the immediate challenges are to refocus, manage the cost base and stabilise the business to bring it back to growth. No drastic changes to its business model are planned. He says:
Mr Clarke, who lives in East Yorkshire, says he’s had “brilliant support” from suppliers even though Farmison’s administration left some being owed money. He says:
He reaffirmed Farmison's commitment to its Bondgate Green site in Ripon by saying the consortium has assured the landlord it intends to stay. He says:
'Eat better meat' is Farmison's strapline
Mr Clarke, who is also chair of Menzies Distribution and holds other senior roles, will divide his time at Farmison with his other business ventures.
Chief operating officer Michelle Kennedy is in charge of day-to-day operations, supported by commercial director Andy Cavanna and finance manager Liam Duggan.
Even with his long experience in retail, however, he says the Farmison acquisition has been "quite a journey".
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