Debbie & Andrew's sausage brand future in doubt
The future of one of the sausage category’s most successful premium sausage brands has been thrown into doubt after the resignation of its founders and the impending closure of the factory producing them.
Debbie & Andrew’s was founded by Debbie and Andrew Keeble but was bought by Vion as part of its acquisition of JJ Tranfield in 2007.
The Keebles remained directors of the company after the Vion deal, and two years ago, told the IGD 2010 Convention that “the consumer is queen, knowledge is king and the future is a very exciting place to be.” But their resignations in the spring have prompted suggestions of a falling out with Vion. “The love affair with Vion is definitely over,” said one industry source.
The Keebles’ departure will also raise questions about how well supported the brand will now be, as both played an active role in promoting their sausages. “Nobody seems to know what’s happening,” said the source, adding the Keebles had not had “much control over the last year or so.”
Doubts about the brand’s future intensified following Vion’s recent decision to close down its Hall’s of Broxburn site in Scotland next year, where Debbie & Andrew’s sausages are made. “Where they’re going to be made, whether Vion will still make them or whether they will sell them, nobody knows,” the source said. They are available, selectively, in all the major multiples.
Vion said: “We are in on-going dialogue with Debbie and Andrew Keeble on a number of matters and therefore, it would be inappropriate to offer any comment at this stage.”
Debbie and Andrew Keeble did not comment.
Pre-tax profits at Debbie & Andrew’s Limited slumped 80.4%, to just £9,227 in the year to 31 December 2011. Sales fell by 5.1%, to £5.4m.
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Readers' comments (15)
Andrew haycock | 27 Dec 2012 6:51
Such a shame love these sausages and made me started eating sausage again all the flavours were amazing and no sausage will ever compare and my dad is a butcher so should know such a shame and hope some one realises the potential of this bran wich is amazing and promotes it and gives it its dues
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Andy Leigh | 06 Jan 2013 9:38
Well, I did love these sausages, but the high salt content is now not only spoiling the taste but making what is supposed to be a healthy product rather less so.
Eat three sausages and you've had almost half your daily 6mg salt allowance. I won't be buying any more.
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Max Blinkhorn | 06 Jan 2013 19:47
WHAT!? Are they mad, loosing a brand that makes damn good sausages like these? Makes you wonder if VION know what they're doing.
Debbie and Andrew, if you start up again, let us all know - delicious, they are!
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HARTWELL | 11 Jan 2013 8:35
SAUSAGES HARROGATE ONES I FOUND SUCH A LOT OF FAT OUTCAME OUT OF THEM WHEN I GRILLED TASTEDNICE IM ON A LOW FAT OFF BUYING BUYING THEM AGAIN
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Simon Cook | 13 Jan 2013 13:00
Such a shame when the big boys take over, a really brilliant product is swallowed up into a faceless uncaring money focused organisation. Debbie & Andrews's are just brilliant. Did they REALLY need to sell out to an overseas company? It's like buying that book and sticking it on the shelf only to sit their and never to have been read.
Companies like Vion will realise the product is still their one day and try to market a sub standard cheaper poorer quality product in order to ensure big profits.
Debbie and Andrew, next time, and I hope there is a next time, keep it small.
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Micky Tavs | 16 Jan 2013 12:41
Does anyone know where I can buy this sausages? Had some of the Provencal at Taste Of Christmas at the Excel and now wish I had bought far more, especially given the above - the www.debbieandandrews.co.uk address given through google now shows as account suspended?
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Sian Awford | 21 Jan 2013 12:57
I bought some of Debbie and Andrew's gluten free sausages from Tesco before Christmas. They had 2 bones in them which really hurt my teeth when I bit into them. The website on the packaging does not exist and Tesco has been less than helpful re my complaints about the bones and the website. Surely it is illegal to have out of date contact details on the packaging of a food product. Any ideas ?
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ANDREW McTAGGART | 23 Jan 2013 11:32
It would be a tragedy if these excellent sausages are not continued to be produced to their very high standards. They are without a question the best tasting sausages that I have ever eaten, even before I became Coeliac.
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Linda | 24 Jan 2013 15:09
you can purchase their sausages at Sainsburys
I am going to try them for the first time this week. I am very impressed with the pork content and the fact that they are made from shoulder of pork
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linda purser | 24 Jan 2013 18:34
Bought these for first time as will not buy ANY sausages with less that 85% pork so when these jumped out from the shelf in Sainsbury's i had to try them. Fried them slowly and not one ounce of fat was seen , good sign, and i had to add a little to them. They were very tasty and i hope i can get them again, read with dismay though that some thought they were expensive and were not selling? Unbelievable, as so much trash goes into bog standard bangers you would not get me buying them, so £2.29 very small price to pay.
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