Launching in October 2022, Pork Fae The Park is run by 17-year-old William Auchnie. He rears his own outdoor pigs and does all the butchery and packaging himself after processing in Grantown. Through marketing on social media and attending local markets as far afield as the Cairngorms, he runs a successful business supplying home-grown pork products across the North of Scotland.
Born into farming, William has always enjoyed the lifestyle and had a keen interest in growing his own food from a young age. Setting up a business at the age of 16 shows initiative, drive and commitment - especially in farming where livestock require care and attention 365 days a year. Offering products with extremely low food miles and grown in a natural way is of great benefit to the rural community and shows how much he values farming at such a young age. Pork is a fantastic and versatile meat that is often underestimated by consumers. He offers it in an appealing and affordable way that benefits the industry as a whole. On the side, he also breeds and sells his own free-range chickens - these are hard for consumers to find, especially at an affordable price, and he has really added value to his business with this offering. William has made a difference to rural Scotland by bringing home-grown pork and chicken to the people of the North East - offering home delivery as well as attending local markets. He is setting an example for other young entrepreneurs by following his passion and turning it into a successful business. Despite not being old enough to drive himself, he has enlisted various family members to help with his home deliveries and attendance at markets and other events. He runs the whole business himself, from feeding the animals to butchering the meat, packaging, pricing and marketing online. This is incredible drive at such a young age and something the farming industry and rural sector as a whole should be proud of.