Rannoch Smokery
Last updated | 25/04/2007
With 26 full-time workers, Rannoch Smokery is the largest employer of local people in Kinloch Rannoch - and the company has grown quickly from humble beginnings to become one of Perthshire's most prestigious food producers.
The business began in the early 1980's, when founder Leo Barclay was snowed in one Christmas, and unable to deliver three deer carcasses to the local game dealer. Undaunted, he cured them in the family bathtub, then smoked them in an outhouse. Early recipes were tested on family and friends, and eventually Rannoch Smokery was born. With Harrods as its first-ever customer, teething problems were few and far between - until a major fire in 1994 wiped out the entire operation.
Richard Barclay, son of Leo and now Managing Director of Rannoch Smokery, admits that, although a disaster at the time, the fire was the turning point in their operation. "My parents could take the money and run, or they could choose to start over and make a real go of it," said Richard. "They chose the latter, because their lives were tied up in the farm and in the business, and this was a real opportunity for them to make a profit out of the land."
As a classic farming diversification, it was inevitable that the business took root in Kinloch Rannoch, where the family already lived and worked. However, Richard says that they were not tempted to relocate once the Smokery started to flourish.
" The whole ethos of Rannoch Smokery is geared towards quality. Every step of our operation is about taking the very best in raw Scottish materials, and turning them into a superb product, adding value and worth at every stage," said Richard. "The area itself adds prestige to our products, by providing an aura of fresh air and mountains that simply couldn't be achieved if we were working from a city-based industrial estate."
Richard says that, although London-based clients adore the location, they are sometimes surprised to find that a business can flourish here. "We may be off the beaten track, but that simply means working a bit harder - well worth it when you consider the alternatives," said Richard. "Any minor drawbacks are far outweighed by the benefits of living and working in Kinloch Rannoch. I can get to work in minutes; I have a view of the loch and the mountains from my window - and how many other people can arrive at work to find red deer stags grazing outside the office door?"
This unflagging dedication, both to the business and to product quality, is paying off. The product range now includes smoked duck, chicken, beef, lamb, pheasant and grouse in season, and roast smoked venison. Last year, Rannoch Smokery recording a turnover of almost £1 million, and have maintained an average annual growth rate of around 18 percent. Although exports to Europe are still a small part of the business, this is also expected to grow with this summer's launch of the Rannoch Smokery online shopping facility.
