Donald Russell, the renowned butcher holding a Royal Warrant to supply the King's household, has been purchased by Shropshire-based ham producer DukesHill in a deal that will eliminate more than 120 positions.
The acquisition spells the end of operations at the company's Inverurie site in Aberdeenshire, where the business was established over five decades ago.
Conservative MP Harriet Cross, who represents Gordon and Buchan, condemned the development as "a dark day" for both the local economy and Scotland's meat industry.
The company had been struggling with record beef prices, soaring energy bills and mounting tax burdens before the sale was finalised.
Donald Russell, the renowned butcher holding a Royal Warrant to supply the King's household, has been purchased by Shropshire-based ham producer DukesHill in a deal that will eliminate more than 120 positions.
|GETTY
Founded in 1974, Donald Russell built its reputation supplying premium cuts from its premises close to Balmoral, the Scottish residence of the Royal Family.
The butcher secured its Royal Warrant in 1984, cementing its status as a supplier to the royal household and earning the informal title of the King's butcher.
King Charles, then Prince of Wales, paid a visit to the Aberdeenshire operation in 1995.
Over the years, the company's client list extended far beyond royalty, with prestigious establishments such as Singapore's Raffles Hotel, Monte Carlo's Loews Hotel and the Orient Express all receiving deliveries from the Scottish butcher.
Under the terms of the agreement concluded this week, DR Fine Foods, DukesHill's parent company, has taken ownership of the Donald Russell brand, its website and all associated intellectual property.
Seventy-nine staff members working in the direct-to-consumer division were transferred to the new owner on 30 April, though their workplace will shift from Aberdeenshire to Shropshire.
The sale follows a period of severe financial strain for the butcher, which had already shed 30 roles before the acquisition was announced.
Government figures indicate beef prices have climbed to historic levels, whilst food businesses across the sector have faced escalating energy and employment expenses.
Ms Cross expressed her dismay at the company's departure from its birthplace, stating: "It's a huge loss that Donald Russell will no longer have a presence in Inverurie."
She urged both Westminster and Holyrood to tackle business rates, increasing taxation and energy costs to help butchers and the broader agricultural supply chain weather what she described as "unprecedented challenges."
DukesHill chief executive Mark Gallagher struck a more optimistic tone, saying: "We've always admired Donald Russell and share many similarities; the same passion for creating the highest quality food."
He pledged to restore operations, reconnect with customers and suppliers, and invest in the brand's long-term future.