Following the merger, the businesses will continue to trade under both the Rare & Pasture and Tempus Foods brands, with sales and distribution being led from the Tempus location. Production and packaging will be shared between the two sites.
Commenting on the merger, Tempus Foods commercial director and BBC’s Master Chef 2010 winner Dhruv Baker said: “The growth of Tempus has been constrained in the past by the size of our production facilities and our access to working capital. By combining with Rare & Pasture, we remove these bottlenecks and position ourselves to better serve the fast-growing UK charcuterie market.
Potential to expand
“Through this merger we will continue to make the well-loved products that both businesses have become known for and have greater potential to expand our range into related cooked meat products. Each side of this transaction has been hugely impressed by what the other has to offer, and we very much look forward to working together.”
Founded in 2017 by Master Chef finalists Tom Whitaker and Dhruv Baker, Weybridge, Surrey-based Tempus produces a range of salamis and whole muscle products, such as King Peter Ham, Smoked Coppa.
Rare & Pasture produces a range of charcuterie from its site at Fowlescombe Farm, a regenerative farm in South Devon. A key objective of the merged entity will be to make this range available through the combined Tempus sales channels.
Fragmented market
Andrew Owens, Rare & Pasture chairman, added: “The British charcuterie and artisan meat product market is highly fragmented, leading to an unnecessarily high-cost base, often combined with supply reliability issues. Through this transaction we are creating greater supply capacity as well as product and customer service synergies that can accelerate the development of this evolving British food sector.
“Our mission is not restricted to either our existing geographic situation or our existing product range, and so it is hoped that this merger will also stimulate other like-minded artisan producers and farmers to offer their skills and products into our growing portfolio.”
Meanwhile, Bakery firm Jacksons of Yorkshire has acquired Lottie Shaw’s for an undisclosed fee.
