A SCOTTISH buffalo farm has found itself at the centre of controversy again after investors who lost money in the business criticised the Scottish Parliament for giving its owner a high-profile platform to showcase his products.
Steve Mitchell, who relaunched the Fife Buffalo Farm following its collapse, was invited earlier this month to a Scottish Food and Drink event at Holyrood, where he presented his buffalo mozzarella to MSPs and ministers.
While the event is designed to celebrate innovation in Scotland’s food sector, the invite sparked anger among those who say they were left financially devastated when the original company went under.
The Buffalo Farm, located just outside Kirkcaldy, had built a reputation for its distinctive mozzarella, farm shop, and café. Investors were invited to join a crowdfunding programme, contributing around £10,000 each in exchange for perks such as store credit and access to exclusive events, and the chance to support what was billed as a pioneering Scottish food venture.
By March 2024, however, mounting financial pressures forced the company into administration, leaving investors with significant losses. Within days, Mitchell purchased the farm’s assets through a pre-pack sale, a legally sanctioned process that allows companies to continue operating under new ownership.
While the sale preserved jobs and kept production going, many of the original investors felt betrayed.
Andrew Shaw, one of the investors who contributed tens of thousands of pounds, described feeling misled.
“The facts and figures they gave us were wrong,” he said.
“Had I had that information at the beginning, I wouldn’t have invested. To see him now presented in parliament as a success story feels like salt in the wound.”
Other backers echoed his frustrations, arguing that the Holyrood event gave Mitchell a level of credibility and access they were denied, despite having borne the financial risk of supporting the venture.
The Scottish Parliament confirmed that the invitation was organised by its catering provider as part of a routine effort to showcase Scottish produce. Officials stressed that the farm does not currently supply parliamentary restaurants and that any formal contracts would require financial due diligence in line with Scottish procurement policy.
A spokesperson said: “The parliament regularly showcases and supports Scottish produce but we can’t comment on individual business cases. Whenever the parliament enters into any supplier contract arrangement, financial due diligence checks are carried out in line with Scottish procurement policy.”
Nevertheless, critics argue that inviting a businessman whose previous venture collapsed without recouping investor funds raises questions about oversight and reputational risk. In a letter to MSPs, one investor urged parliamentarians to exercise caution, stating: “While parliament has a duty to encourage entrepreneurship and innovation, it equally bears a responsibility to safeguard the interests of public funds and to ensure that support is not extended to individuals with a demonstrable record of financial mismanagement. I therefore urge members to exercise due diligence before affording parliamentary endorsement, funding or promotional opportunities to Mr Mitchell.”
Mitchell has defended himself, saying he is determined to rebuild the business, learn from past mistakes, and support employment in the local area.
“We’re trying to move forward here.
“I could have crawled under a rock, but I chose to front up and turn a terrible situation into something we can be proud of again. We’re producing a Scottish product, trying to provide employment. We made mistakes. We could have just let the whole thing be broken up and forgotten about, or I can take the learnings and try to move forward – but I need people to support me.
"We didn’t con anybody. They knew what they were signing up to, and it was a risky thing. We’re only selling cheese – nobody needs to be discredited for supporting us.”
The farm employs around 50 people and continues to produce mozzarella, despite setbacks, including the recent deaths of two buffalo after becoming trapped in a bog. The row has reignited debate about how government bodies support small businesses while protecting investors and public confidence. Scotland’s food and drink sector relies on entrepreneurial risk-taking, but to those who lost their money, the Holyrood showcase appears to reward risk without consequence, leaving them with the financial and emotional cost.
Mitchell’s Buffalo Farm continues under its new structure, gaining recognition for its Scottish produce, while critics and investors remain divided over whether the parliament’s platform should have been extended to a business with such a contentious recent history.
