13th October 2005
The Black Farmer™ Goes National

Devon-based sausage business, The Black Farmer™, is fulfilling its strategy to put the West Country firmly on the national map. Spearheaded by The Black Farmer himself, Wilfred Emmanuel-Jones the one and only Afro-Caribbean in British farming, the brand’s sausages have gained a major following by food lovers in the southwest, prompting the major supermarkets to extend initial local listings to take The Black Farmer™ national.

To allow the business to expand its distribution, The Black Farmer™ has received support through SWIG’s Devon Business Support Fund.

The fund is a new initiative - operated in collaboration with Business Link and Lloyds TSB - designed to provide loan finance to businesses looking to expand or engage in business development activities.

The fund’s new dedicated adviser Richard Knight said of the scheme, "It has two real strengths. The first is that it provides loans to projects that have not secured finance through the normal routes. The second is that it provides free pre and post investment advice. We are delighted to have been involved with The Black Farmer™ and look forward to seeing this local business continue to expand nationally and internationally."

Says Emmanuel-Jones: “This is a very exciting and challenging time for The Black Farmer™ brand and it is vital that we get the transition from regional to national supplier absolutely right. This takes investment, and to have the support of this funding alongside Business Link’s assistance has been instrumental in allowing us to develop the business to cope with the significantly increased product and distribution demands.”

The Black Farmer™ brand of sausages was launched in 2004 and has experienced sustained rapid growth. The three-strong range of Premium Pork, Pork & Leek and Pork, Onion & Chive lead the way in moving the bar up in terms of quality and meat content of sausages that are generally available. Boasting 85 – 90% pork content and scooping a Gold and Silver medal in this year’s prestigious Taste of the West Awards, The Black Farmer™ has raised consumer awareness of what they can expect from a sausage.

“I’m a self confessed ‘sausageaholic’ - passionate about great tasting sausages. I was frustrated at not being able to find a really good meaty sausage, so I set about creating the ultimate sausage, an award winning sausage. Now I’m delighted that people all over the country are going to be able to enjoy them too.”