Andy Clarke’s Farmison is beefing up its wholesale business with a top chef tie-up

Farmison, acquired in April last year by former Asda boss Clarke and investors including the entrepreneurs behind the success of the Rekorderlig cider brand in the UK, has just launched the range with top chefs’ supplier Wellocks.

Farmison & Co presented by Pierre Koffmann, a tie-up between the retailer and the three-Michelin-starred chef, is an exclusive range for Wellocks and the latest initiative for Clarke and his team, led by chief executive Andy Adcock, a former managing director of Marks & Spencer’s food business.

Clarke said Farmison aims to beef up its wholesale business so that it equals the retail element. Farmison mainly retails online, but has one shop at its premises in Ripon, North Yorks. It also supplies other businesses, including department store Harrods.

Clarke said he was pleased with progress at Farmison, which specialises in high-quality meat such as that from heritage breeds and which he bought out of administration.

He expects growth to continue. This year, Farmison is likely to turn over more than £10m, which is similar to that achieved during the pandemic when consumers switched en masse to online retaliers.

Clarke said of the Wellocks deal: “We’ve been working to put together a range that can go to their [customers’] restaurants.” He said of wholesale more generally: “We’re quite excited about it. We’ll see how it builds.”