Historic Arbroath butchers Fleming will be saved from closure, with all staff retaining their jobs.
The Courier revealed on Monday that workers has been told the business would close in October.
The West Port butchers and bakers, established in 1925, is famous locally for its steak and gravy pies.
Rising costs and a fall in customers during the cost of living crisis were among the reasons current owner Guthrie Batchelor told staff.
However, the 97-year-old business is not ready to close its doors quite yet.
Customer strikes deal for Fleming Butchers
In a hastily arranged deal, businessman James Thompson will acquire the company and all its assets in August.
Mr Thompson operates Longparke Farm Shop and Café in Monifieth and is one of Fleming’s wholesale customers.
He met Mr Batchelor on Monday evening and was encouraged to complete the deal after seeing the strength of feeling among Fleming customers on The Courier’s Facebook page.
He said: “When the news came out we knew its closure would be a huge loss to the local area.
“Many members of staff have been there for almost 40 years.
“As a customer, we see it as an opportunity to be part of the source of our products. I know it is all locally sourced and there are no shortcuts taken with quality.
“I met with Guthrie on Monday evening and the deal has moved at a fast pace.
“We are keeping on all the staff and the Arbroath shop. It’s business as usual.”
Pie supply concerns among customers
Mr Thompson said he wasn’t surprised to see hundreds of comments expressing sorrow at its closure online.
Among the messages was from a man who said he drove from Aberdeen each week to stock up.
“It demonstrates there’s a loyal customer base,” he said.
The new owner said he would introduce a Fleming fridge into the Longeparke farm shop. In time, this may develop into a butchery counter.
The transaction is likely to complete on August 31.
In 1925, Charles Fleming initially opened the butchers in Arbroath at Millgate Loan, before moving to West Port.
The business had a second shop, at Ponderlaw, which closed five years ago.
After being run by several generations of the Fleming family, it was acquired by in 2014 by farmer Guthrie Batchelor.
He oversaw the West Port shop’s expansion into the taxi office next door.
Mr Batchelor said: “I’m delighted that Fleming Butchers will continue.
“It’s the best case scenario as all the staff are keeping their jobs.
“James has a few ideas and a lot of enthusiasm to take the business forward.”
Bill Fleming, the second generation of the Flemings to run the business, died this year aged 92.
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