2025 marks a special anniversary for Oink! It has been 25 years since the business began, and this is an excellent opportunity to reflect on the journey to becoming a treasured part of Edinburgh’s food scene and serving over 250,000 delicious pulled pork rolls every year.
Adam Marshall and Sandy Pate, farming friends from the Scottish Borders, joined forces in 2020 to create Reiver Country Farm Foods to sell produce from their farms to the local market.
Then, inspired by what was believed to be the only hog roaster at the time, the entrepreneurial pair created a homemade roasting oven and started venturing up to Castle Terrace to take part in the first established Edinburgh Farmers Market.
Their piping hot pulled pork rolls proved an instant crowd-pleaser, attracting a growing band of hungry regulars, which paired with the demand from tourists, especially those from Asia and mainland Europe, then inspired the move to bricks and mortar in the Scottish capital.
Adam said: “When we started out, we weren’t trying to build an empire — we were just two farmers trying to stay afloat during a tough time for the pig industry.
“We built our own ovens, turned up at farmers markets, and hoped people would give it a try. To still be here 25 years later, serving hundreds of thousands of rolls a year, is something we’re really proud of.
“We’ve stuck to what we know, kept it simple, and done it our way. The fact people still queue up for it means a lot to us.”
The pair opened their first dedicated shop in the heart of Edinburgh’s Old Town in 2008. Nestled on the cobbled Victoria Street, the shop quickly became a firm favourite among tourists, students, and workers alike.
A second opened on the Royal Mile in 2014, followed by a Hanover Street shop in 2018.
Sandy commented: “We were just two mates with a passion for great meat and a desire to show city folk what Borders farming could deliver.
“We never imagined that a weekend stall would become something that would draw such loyal customers from near and around the world.
“At the end of the day, it’s about making people happy with something that tastes brilliant – and diversifying our farming businesses to ensure a viable and prosperous future for our families.”
Oink has grown into a firm Edinburgh foody favourite, dishing out thousands of hand-pulled rolls each week and building a fiercely loyal following. Its famous fans include Radio 1 DJ Greg James, comedian and foodie Ed Gamble, the Australian Rugby Team and Phil Rosenthal – who featured the Victoria Street shop on hit Netflix show “Somebody Feed Phil”.
Though the original Reiver farm shop in Reston has closed its doors, it laid the foundations for everything that came after. Their commitment to quality and flavour has also powered a thriving outside catering business. The Oink mobile service caters for weddings, corporate events, and private parties across Scotland, with pork roast options all prepped in their specialist unit.
Adam added: “Edinburgh’s food scene has changed a lot over the years — there are more chains, more trends, and a lot of investment. We’ve just stuck to what we know: good pork, cooked slow, served simply.”
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