Game producer Lean + Wild has opened a venison processing facility in Radwinter as part of an investment in the UK wild venison industry.
The new facility was established with the aim to provide greater control over the supply chain, improve market stability and offer deer managers fixed processing fees throughout the season.
Lean + Wild said that its announcement had come at a time of “unprecedented volatility” in the venison market. Recent market data showed that wild venison prices had increased by more than 85% between September 2025 and the latest reported prices in July 2026, “creating uncertainty in the coming season” for customers and consumers.
The producer said investing in its own facility would allow it to take “direct control” of the journey from field to fork, removing many of the supply chain pressures that have affected the industry. It would allow the company to offer fixed processing fees for carcases throughout the season, aiming to give deer managers certainty and transparency when planning culls and supplying wild venison.
Lean + Wild offers diced venison, gourmet burgers and haunch steaks on its online shop, as well as venison loins, fillet steaks and meatballs.
Iain Burke-Hamilton, founder of Lean + Wild, commented: “Our aim is to bring long-term stability and professionalism to the venison sector.
“The wild venison industry has incredible potential, but fluctuating prices and limited processing capacity have made it difficult for many new customers to plan with confidence. By investing in our own processing facility, we’re creating a more resilient supply chain that benefits everyone; from the people managing our wild deer populations to the customers enjoying healthy, sustainable British venison.”
The new facility in Essex will increase Lean + Wild’s processing capacity, and it said that controlling the full process would allow the business to deliver “consistent quality, improve efficiency and respond more effectively to growing consumer demand”.
The Radwinter processing plant represents a “major step” towards creating a more reliable supply chain, said Lean + Wild, supporting rural economies and making premium wild venison more accessible to retailers, foodservice operators and consumers across the UK.
