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Fairfax Meadow is proud to announce that we have been named Catering Butcher of the Year 2026 at the Meat Management Awards, held on 3 September. This marks the third time in four years that we have received this prestigious industry award, recognising our commitment to quality, service, and innovation across the foodservice sector.

As one of the UK’s leading catering butchers and meat suppliers, this achievement reflects the dedication, skill and teamwork shown by our colleagues every day. From sourcing and butchery to customer service and logistics, every part of the business plays a role in delivering the quality, consistency, and reliability our customers expect.

To be recognised by the industry as the UK’s leading catering butcher is a tremendous honour. We are incredibly grateful for the continued support, trust and loyalty of our customers, suppliers and partners who help make achievements like this possible.

A special thank you goes to everyone who took the time to vote for Fairfax Meadow. Your support helped secure this award, and we are proud to continue putting great meat on the menu for chefs, caterers, and foodservice operators across the UK.

Penny Tomlinson, Managing Director, said:

“This award is testament to the passion, expertise and hard work of our people. We are incredibly proud to be recognised as Catering Butcher of the Year and grateful to our customers, suppliers and partners for their ongoing support.”

Sysco GB has announced that it has acquired Fairfax Meadow, one of the UK’s leading catering butchers, from Hilton Foods.

The acquisition of award-winning catering butcher, Fairfax Meadow, marks the latest, important stage in Sysco GB’s strategy to grow its centre of plate proposition, and become the UK’s leading fresh meat supplier to the foodservice sector.

Fairfax Meadow is a well-established business, which has been putting great meat on the menu for more than 50 years. The company, which employs 360 people, operates from production and distribution premises in Derby, Enfield and Eastleigh. It will add additional meat manufacturing capability to Sysco GB and build on the recent acquisition of Campbell’s Prime Meat, which operates across Scotland and the north of England, giving Sysco GB an unrivalled national meat distribution network.

Announcement from Penny Tomlinson, Managing Director, Fairfax Meadow

“I am pleased to announce that Fairfax Meadow is joining Sysco GB. This acquisition acknowledges and further strengthens our position as one of the leading meat suppliers to the foodservice industry.

Hilton Foods helped navigate Fairfax Meadow through the post-pandemic period and rapidly accelerated our ESG agenda, providing vital market insight to support our customers and opened access to new supply markets for us.

The next stage of our evolution will be with Sysco GB, a business with a deep-rooted understanding and unparalleled reach within the fast-moving foodservice sector. We are proud to bring our extensive meat industry knowledge and team expertise to complement their existing strengths.

I look forward to continuing to lead the business with my experienced and loyal team, ensuring a seamless transition for all customers and stakeholders.

It’s important to say we will still operate as a separate business. Alongside this, will now be the added benefit of specialist foodservice support with Sysco’s operating companies offering new routes to market, whilst benefiting from Fairfax Meadow’s longstanding expertise in meat processing”.

We’re proud to share that both our Derby and Enfield sites have successfully passed their Red Tractor audits.

This is a fantastic achievement and a true testament to the hard work, dedication, and expertise of our teams. Maintaining these high standards isn’t just about ticking boxes – it’s about our ongoing commitment to quality, food safety, and responsible sourcing.

For our customers, this means continued confidence that our products meet the highest industry standards, ensuring trusted, responsibly sourced, and consistently high-quality meat.

A huge thank you to everyone involved for your efforts in upholding these standards every day. Teamwork truly makes the difference.

We’re proud to share that Fairfax Meadow has been awarded a silver medal by EcoVadis, the world’s most trusted provider of business sustainability ratings. This fantastic achievement places us in the top 15% of companies assessed globally and reflects our ongoing commitment to responsible business practices.

The award recognises our efforts across key areas including environmental impact, labour and human rights, ethics, and sustainable procurement.

From reducing waste in our operations to sourcing responsibly and supporting our people, sustainability is embedded in the way we work.

This recognition is a meaningful milestone on our journey – and one that motivates us to continue raising the bar for sustainable and ethical practices across our business and the wider supply chain.

We are incredibly proud to report that Fairfax Meadow, in partnership with Foyle Food Group, has been awarded the Mitchells & Butlers PLC “Excellence in Sustainability Award”.

It is recognition of our focus on delivering the Hilton Foods/Fairfax Meadow 2025 Sustainable Protein Plan, with special thanks to Emer Fardy, Tom Maidment and the wider team at Hilton Foods.

Presented to Kim Black and Shaun Campbell at the M&B Supplier Conference, Paul Holland referred to the importance of this tri-party agreement and its value to their business.

As we celebrate our 50th year in business, this award serves as a stepping stone towards a future of even greater collaboration and sustainability. 

Fairfax Meadow has proudly received the Meat Management Catering Butcher of the Year Award for 2024. This is our second year in a row to win this prestigious industry award and comes as we celebrate our 50th year in business.

To receive this award in 2023 and 2024 is recognition of our commitment to quality, innovation, and customer service. Fairfax Meadow has been a leading supplier of quality meat products to the foodservice industry since 1974. The award is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the Fairfax Meadow team, who are passionate about delivering the best possible products and service.

Penny Tomlinson, Managing Director of Fairfax Meadow, said, “To receive this award two years in a row is a tremendous honour, and the evening was an excellent opportunity to network and celebrate with industry colleagues and partners.

Thank you to the team who represented Fairfax Meadow and collected the award on behalf of us all. Our thanks go to every team member for playing their part in contributing to the reputation and success of Fairfax Meadow.

In addition, thank you to our customers, suppliers and colleagues across Hilton Foods for their support in helping Fairfax Meadow achieve this award. As we look to the future, we have exciting plans for the next 50 years of Fairfax Meadow.”

They say a picture paints a thousand words, but there isn’t just one image that captures the sheer joy of over 200 Fairfax Meadow team members celebrating our 50th anniversary together. So, here are a few that convey the coming together of team members, old and new, since 1974.

The celebrations were held at The Harvester in Pride Park, Derby. A fitting venue as Fairfax Meadow has been supplying Harvester since they launched in the 1980s.

As you would expect, Fairfax Meadow meat was on the menu, and the focus was steaks, ribs and chicken, with a trip to the famous Harvester salad cart, too!

It was a truly special moment when Mr. Gerry Wensley, our original managing director, joined us to celebrate our 50th anniversary. His presence, along with that of our retired team members, including one who worked with Mr. Wensley at the very beginning of Fairfax in London, was a testament to the enduring spirit of our company.

Penny Tomlinson, managing director, shared a few poignant words to mark the grand occasion. Her message was about reflecting on the journey so far and looking to the future.

Huge thanks to Ed, Chris and the team at The Harvester, Pride Park, Derby for making our event extra special. They all went out of their way to ensure everything was brilliant and they were very much part of the celebrations. Mitchells & Butlers PLC have been a client of Fairfax for several decades and we thank them for their business and continued support.

Fairfax Meadow, Catering Butcher of the Year 2023, has taken delivery of its first electric vehicles from ProGreen, the sustainable vehicle hire and alternative fuels division of Prohire, the leading provider of commercial vehicle hire and fleet management solutions.

Delivered as the UK’s biggest foodservice catering butcher celebrates its 50th anniversary, the two Ford e-Transit refrigerated vans will operate within London’s Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ), delivering meat to Fairfax Meadow customers in the capital including Browns Restaurants (Mitchells & Butlers), Drake & Morgan and Gordon Ramsay.

The bespoke vans, which have been designed and managed through the production process by ProGreen, are part of Fairfax Meadow’s sustainability strategy. The state-of-the-art electric vehicles, which have been supplied on long term contract hire, including full repair and management, feature a Solomon Insulated body and a refrigeration system from GAH capable of dealing with both chilled and frozen meat products.

The vehicles have been fitted with an entirely new on-brand cab and body livery designed by the marketing team at Fairfax Meadow.

ProGreen has fitted Geotab telematics to both vehicles which will enable Fairfax Meadow to monitor driver behaviour and report on CO2 savings. The systems will also allow ProGreen to provide remote fault diagnosis, tracking and accident detention to ensure optimum performance. Full driver training will be provided by Prohire training academy, ProCademy.

Penny Tomlinson, managing director of Fairfax Meadow, said: “From the outset, Prohire stood out as a knowledgeable and enthusiastic EV fleet supplier and, with their support, we’ve taken our first steps on the EV journey as part of our sustainability plan. The new EVs are an important part of future proofing our business, from an environmental, cost management and customer perspective.”

Michelle Miles, head of ProGreen said: “We’ve worked closely with Fairfax Meadow every step of the way, to make sure these first electric vehicles hit every aspect of their brief. Supporting a company in realising its sustainability strategy through the provision of electric vehicles is a real privilege and I’m proud of the solution we’ve delivered.

“What a way for a company to celebrate its 50th year with such a fantastic innovation. We look forward to continuing to support Fairfax Meadow in its transition to alternative fuels in the years to come.”

Following full site surveys at Fairfax Meadow’s London depot, ProGreen also managed the installation of the charging infrastructure for the electric vehicles by MER UK.

To find out more about the CO2 reduction of the new Fairfax Meadow EVs and how Fairfax Meadow can support your business, please get in touch.

We recently had the pleasure of attending the Greene King golf day at  the Celtic Manor Hotel in Newport, Wales.

Despite the unpredictable weather, the team from Fairfax Meadow managed to cook up a storm, serving delicious food for around 100 hungry golfers. The combination of blue skies and occasional rain showers did little to dampen the spirits of everyone involved.

Positioned on the 18th, the feedback on the catering was excellent. The burgers were an absolute hit, but it was the Chinese-style pork belly that stole the show, receiving rave reviews from all corners.

Kudos to the team for delivering such a stellar dining experience! A special mention goes out to the individuals who made it all happen: Mark Longden, David Neale, Dan Moore, and Michelle Dalley. Their hard work and dedication truly made the day a resounding success.

Thanks to the team at Greene King for the opportunity to showcase our range and feed the hungry golfers!

Fairfax Meadow has been putting great meat on menus across the UK since 1974. In our 50th year of business, we are pleased to announce the launch of our first electric vehicles(EVs) delivering meat to foodservice customers across London.

The move to EVs is part of our commitment to sustainability and reducing our environmental impact as part of our sustainability plan.

“We are delighted to be introducing electric vehicles to our fleet,” said Penny Tomlinson, Fairfax Meadow’s Managing Director. “As a responsible business, we are committed to reducing our impact on the environment, and this is an important step towards achieving that goal. We believe electric vehicles will play an important part in the future of transport, and we are proud to lead the way in our industry.”

The CO2 reduction is estimated to be 39 kg per van per day (based on a CO2 admission rate of 2.58g per litre used).

The new EVs will transport Fairfax Meadow’s products to customers across London, including restaurants, hotels, hospitality venues, and contract caterers. Fairfax Meadow has also installed charging points at its depots to ensure that the vehicles can be charged quickly and efficiently.

Please get in touch to learn more about how Fairfax Meadow could supply your business.