Welcome to The Real Meat Company

The Real Meat Company was founded by and is still owned by Richard Guy and Gilly Metherell. They met in 1984, got married in 1985 and started the Real Meat Company in January 1986.

In the best way of things, the Company reflects their sincere belief that, if we are to eat meat, we should take responsibility that the livestock has been properly reared.

They eat no other meat and when away from home on business or on holiday become vegetarians.

They have two daughters, Frankie, at university, and Virginia, at school.

Genuine pioneers . . .

Back in the '70s, Richard decided that the only way to be sure that the livestock providing meat for his table was properly looked after was to rear it himself. Starting with one pig, he went on to rear more pigs, lambs, chickens and turkeys.

When he met Gilly in 1984, she had a herd of pigs, an unusual hobby, even in those days. Gilly's pigs, kept according to Richard's principles, lead to an excess of traditionally, sty reared, additive free pigs. On their honeymoon, it occurred to them that they could sell the pork and other meats too under a brand name.

Gilly thought up the name, "Real Meat Company" and together they pioneered free range chickens (see picture), turkeys and completed the range to provide customers with a genuine alternative to intensively and/or conventionally farmed livestock.

Richard Guy

Richard, along with Gilly, oversees the principles, standards and accountability which define the Company. Beyond that he deals with the sales side liaising with our retail outlets, computers and information technology, original writing, photography and accounts.

When not undertaking Real Meat duties, Richard farms East Hill Farm with Gilly and enjoys travel and photography. He has travelled in Africa, Australia, India, Europe, Mexico, USA and Brazil.

His photographs are used throughout the company literature and for press requirements.

Gilly Metherell

Gilly was born and brought up in the New Forest. The Metherells were, and still are, keen on quality food and for many years reared their own calves and pigs for the family table. Gilly oversees the supply side of the Company managing and assisting farmers and ensuring a steady throughput of Real Meat standard livestock. She also deals with the Company's own retailing operation, Real Meat Direct.

She undertakes the day-to-day management of East Hill Farm where she and Richard live and where the Company has its head office.

She is keen on horses and, in her spare time, breeds racehorses as Cotley Hill Stud. One of her thoroughbreds, Tihui Two was placed second, first and third in the 2005/6 season.

Michelle McFarlane

Michelle is in charge of the everyday running of the Company. Having joined us back in 1991, she has engaged the concepts of the Company with loyalty and zeal.

She is in overall charge of wholesale sales and ex-farm procurement. It is she who gets the meat to the shops for customers to buy. She also has input into most other areas, is always keen to appear on behalf of the Company at public events and does the preparation and set-dressing for our food photography.

She lives on the nearby Longleat Estate with her partner, who is the Grounds Manager, and her ward, Courtney. She enjoys keeping fit, shopping and travel.

Dawn Quelch

As Company accountant, Dawn counts the beans and the sausages. She prepares the essential reports, costings, budgets operates the payroll. She is also a key player in the team which runs Real Meat Direct supervising the nitty gritty details of order fulfillment.

Dawn lives in Warminster with her partner. She has two boys, one just finishing University and the other working as a Personal Bank Manager.