Buffalo Farm hails staff who made success of delivery service

When the lockdown began, Buffalo Farm boss Steve Mitchell saw three of the company’s four revenue streams shut down, with the Bothy restaurant closing, wholesales to eateries dropping to zero, and summer catering events cancelled.

However, the business adapted to deal with the changing situation, moving staff to the shop which is now doing more deliveries than ever.

With no staff furloughed, more hands were put into the delivery service, with food packages going out to roughly 150-200 customers per day.

Steve said: “It’s not been without its challenges, but I think we have to see ourselves as very fortunate as we’ve never has so much feedback and support. It’s been phenomenal.

“When it all started to unravel we were very very concerned about the business because for years we’ve relied on our catering and supplying hotels and restaurants. It dropped off immediately. It’s over 50 per cent of our turnover. Events catering is also significant in the summer.

“But our website sales have completely compensated us and it’s down to the amazing team that we’ve got who have adapted.

“We’ve been able to put a really good range of new products onto our website.”

The shop, which remains open to two customers at a time, also runs a click and collect service, where clients can can call and a member of the team will bring it out to the car.

Steve says the firm is also now working with local producers to offer more to customers, with a fruit and veg box working with Raith Fruit, strawberries from Blacketyside Farm in Leven, and fish from GJ Wilson from St Monans.

Meanwhile the kitchen team from the Bothy are creating new ready-meal type products.

Steve added: “We had all the vans for supplying restaurants, but now they’re now delivering direct to people’s doorsteps. On an average night we’re doing 250 orders, over six days.

“The staff have been amazing, they’ve gone into three shifts so we’re able to try to adhere to social distancing as much as possible.

“What we’ve learned is we’re more efficient, so our output has gone up rather than down.

“The truth is the supermarkets are struggling to cope, with huge waiting times. We’ve got a four-day turnaround, which compared to some people is really good.

“Also, people have got a little more time, so they can enjoy good produce, and I’m really hoping the silver lining for what has been a horrible experience for a lot of people is that we’ve found a whole new generation of people willing to cook.”

Steve said the deliveries had not been without their troubles, with one age-old Kirkcaldy problem rearing its head.

“The seagulls of Kirkcaldy did interrupt one bit of social distancing delivery this week.

“Leaving a basket of fresh produce at the gate and then the driver went back to the van to phone the customer to tell them it had arrived and the seagulls of Kirkcaldy attacked. It could only happen in Kirkcaldy, it was really unfortunate but obviously we replaced that product for the customer.

“I’d like to thank the customers, but I’d also like to thank our staff because we could never have done this if they hadn’t been willing to embrace it.”