John Crawshaws, an award-winning South Yorkshire family butcher backed by entrepreneur Richard Rose, could float later this year on AIM.

Funds run by Unicorn Asset Management have paid around £1 million for 15 per cent of sausage, pie and turkey specialist Crawshaw, where Rose, who distinguished at Whittards and WF Electrical, has a key stake. Unicorn sees the company as a ‘heritage’ proposition with commercially defensive qualities as well. Its 14 profitable outlets could justify support from a City investment group.

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