Founder Roy Dixon first started our journey (as Manchester Rusk Company, aka MRCC) selling seasonings to butchers, over 50 years ago. Although the lamb and mint, BBQ brisket, and marinaded butchers meat is of the norm today, back then it brought about a new wave of innovation to the butchery industry.
Founder, Roy Dixon first established Manchester Rusk Company (now known as The Flava People) in 1976 with the ambition of innovating the traditional butchery industry. Roy starting developing a range of seasonings and sauces designed to help butchers add value to their counters with simple, accessible, affordable, and delicious solutions. This was where MRC was born, and as a result, the business we are today.
SPOTTING THE OPPORTUNITY
In the 1970’s, the butchery industry was booming and carried with it traditions from the generations before them. Entrepreneurial Roy Dixon recognised that butchers had an opportunity to add-value to customers and upsell their existing offerings to further generate more income – with dry spices, seasonings and sauces.
Roy experimented with flavour and worked with butchers to develop a range of delicious dry seasoning mixes. Roy then spent years convincing butchers to adopt the product, and educate them on how instead of throwing away spare ribs, they could season them and create additional profit. After building relationships within the industry, the brand MRC was born.
BRINGING THE BRAND TO LIFE
After 50 years, MRC is one of the most recognisable brands in butchery, selling product in 90% of all UK butchers still to-date. Many of our butchery customer the The Flava People team still know by name today, and we’re beyond proud of the brand’s continued loyalty throughout the decades.
Although, MRC currently sells a range of 38 delicious dry seasonings (as well as wet sauces, oils and other formats), we’re continually innovating amongst ever-changing flavour trends. As of 2025, MRC also introduced a Gluten-Free range, that allows butchers to be more inclusive and cater to diverse dietary requirements.
