Aberdeenshire Larder has closed suddenly after trading for 70 years, leaving customers out of pocket.
The Ellon business, located on Broomiesburn Road, ceased trading as of February 28.
Customers were alerted to the sudden news while phoning up to check on orders or make enquiries.
An automated message said: “Thank you for calling Aberdeenshire Larder. Sadly we have ceased trading as of the 28th of February.
“Liquidators have been appointed and we will be in touch with customers and suppliers.”
The butcher is located at Balmacassie Industrial Estate in Ellon
Decision to close Aberdeenshire Larder has been a “difficult” one
Earlier this afternoon, the owners published a statement online confirming they had entered voluntary liquidation.
They said: “Like many businesses, we have faced challenges due to the escalating costs of electricity, which is vital to our operations, and the increasing prices of raw materials.
“Unfortunately, despite our efforts, our primary focus on supplying independent hotels and restaurants has not rebounded since the onset of Covid-19.
“Additionally, Brexit hindered our ability to export venison until very recently, further impacting our operations.
“As a result of these factors, we have made the difficult decision to close our doors. We apologise for any inconvenience caused to our customers, especially those with outstanding retail orders.
“If you have been affected, we advise you to contact your card provider or PayPal for a refund.
“We’ve tried so hard to keep everything going, we know it feels very sudden for you all – us too.
“We sincerely appreciate your support throughout the years. Thank you.”
Aberdeenshire Larder’s 70 year history
Aberdeenshire Larder was established in 1950 when John Christie Bain opened his first butcher’s shop in the small village of Tarves.
On its website, the owners said they pride themselves on being a third-generation, family-run butcher.
A blurb online: “Situated in the heart of the Buchan countryside, we are passionate about curating a ‘larder’ of locally sourced produce and ingredients to our customers and have been for over 70 years.”
Aberdeenshire Larder closure leaves customers out of pocket
Jackie Gray, 58, went into the business for the first time last week and ordered a weekly shopping pack worth £132.
The food was meant to be delivered on Thursday morning, but she received an email saying the order had been cancelled due to inefficient stock levels.
She said: “It’s a bad time economically. I’ve maybe lost £132 but by goodness they’re going to lose their livelihoods.
“It hasn’t put us off, we’ll definitely be still shopping locally.”
Conversation