Venison supplier to celebrity chefs sold

FLETCHERS of Auchtermuchty, the venison supplier popular with celebrity chefs including Nigella Lawson, is being sold by its founders to its current manager, Vikki Banks.

Banks, who joined two years ago, intends to move the successful trading operation to different premises in order to service its expanding mail order business.

Fletchers venison has won a string of celebrity fans, also including Gordon Ramsay and Delia Smith, since founders John and Nichola Fletcher started farming deer and working with the meat almost 40 years ago.

John Fletcher will continue to run his farm at Reediehill, increasing his breeding herd to sell to new entrants to the market. He will reduce the number of finished deer he produces.

His wife, who is also a food writer and goldsmith, said: “Our brand has huge potential but because I am so busy writing, teaching, and designing jewels, it needed someone’s undivided attention.”