FEATHERS were ruffled last week and accusations were flying that a long-established Letham firm was "turning its back" on its loyal retail customers who had help build up the business.
Joseph Mitchell (Letham) Ltd., part of the Birmingham-based 2 Sisters Food Group, hit the headlines when it was suggested they would no longer sell fresh chicken to butchers but would concentrate solely on supplying Tesco.
Speculation was also ri
fe over the Mitchell family's association with the firm - with managing director Steven Mitchell, finance director Joseph Mitchell and sales director Michael Mitchell representing the fourth generation of their family involved in the firm.
As some customers faced the prospect of finding an alternative poultry supplier, a spokesperson was emphatic in stating the Joseph Mitchell (Letham) facility "is, and will remain, a local supplier."
She said: "With regard to the rumours regarding the company dropping local butchers to focus on Tescos, this is in no way true.
"Whilst we have no contract in place, we would love to think that in the coming weeks we could be supplying retailers such as Tesco and other major retailers with locally sourced and produced chicken for their local branches.
"However, we will, of course, continue to supply local customers with fresh chicken, servicing both catering butchers and multiple retailers.
"The Letham facility currently employs over 200 people in and around the area.
"By aiming to expand our customer base with multiple retailers such as Tesco we're hoping to provide increased job security as well as the prospect of additional employment.
"This means local consumers will be able to buy branded Scottish chicken, locally sourced and produced, from multiple retailers as well as local butchers."
The spokesperson confirmed there have been "some changes" to its delivery system.
She continued: "We had been delivering against small orders, often a great distance away.
"This is no longer viable on an economic, logistic or environmental level.
"Butchers that are many miles away from our factory may want to seek alternative supplies from wholesalers more local to them, or to organise themselves to share collections from Letham.
"Butchers local to the facility will doubtless continue to source their chicken direct from Letham.
"We sincerely hope that they will all continue to source product from our facility.
"With regard to the Mitchell brothers, I can confirm that Joseph Mitchell, the most senior of the three brothers, is remaining with the company. His two brothers have tendered their notice and will, sadly, be leaving the company at the end of the month."
The 2 Sisters Food Group, which professes on its website that its business philosophy is to "work in partnership with our key customers to deliver a product of the highest quality and integrity," bought the family-owned Joseph Mitchell (Letham) Ltd. last June.
The deal involved Mitchell's primary processing plant in Letham, and the Challenger Foods added value operation in Sunderland, acquired by the Angus outfit five years previously.
At the time of the take-over the three Mitchell brothers were at its helm, a situation which remained as part of the new ownership arrangement.
Managing director Steven Mitchell, finance director Joseph Mitchell and sales director Michael Mitchell retained their positions under the takeover.
The family business was founded in 1904 by George Mitchell.
He moved into the village of Letham from an outlying farm and founded what was recognised as one of the longest established food firms in Scotland.
In 1910 George expanded his business by opening a shop in Dundee 's Craig Street Market.
Following his death in 1923 the business was carried on by George's son Joe.
Joe's son Gordon joined the business in 1952 and this father and son team built Mitchells into Scotland's leading supplier of poultry and game products to the wholesale and catering trade nationwide.
Brought back into family ownership from Saltire plc in May 1997, Joseph Mitchell (Letham) Ltd. completed the purchase of Challenger Foods in January 2002.
Last June the poultry processor, which had more than 250 employees at sites in Letham and in the north-east of England, was bought over by the 2 Sisters Food Group Ltd.
It marked the first expansion north of the border for a company which, in less than two decades, had established itself as a major industry player with annual sales of more than £400 million and a 3,500 strong staff.
The deal, for an undisclosed sum, involved Mitchell's primary processing plant in Letham, and Challenger Foods.
At the time Stephen Mitchell, Joseph Mitchell and Michael Mitchell retained their positions and the message to staff was that it would be "very much business as usual" for the many people employed at the two sites, as well as for customers and suppliers.
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