For the past week I have tried to source my usual supply of back bacon produced by our well established Pattaya based firm of butchers, Yorkies, that arrived in the 1990s when Norman and Eileen Denning set up the business.
From The Best to Big C Extra, Villa, to Makro but no luck, literally not a sausage. Eventually went in to Central Festival’s Tops which was probably the most reliable of stockists only to find their counter to be bereft of any Yorkies bacon save for a lonely clump of three packs of streaky, their last apparently.
It seems they have ceased trading and the business is up for sale for 10 million baht.
Norman Denning suffered a fatal heart attack in 2011 but his wife soldiered on until she returned to Blighty a couple of years ago. Seems the decreasing Brit population has eroded demand and competition has whittled away profits.
It’s a disaster. Yorkies back bacon was that rare thing here in Thailand, reliably and professionally produced quality back bacon with a hint of fat sold fresh in a sensibly expiry dated sealed pack from a variety of local stores.
The other Brit bacon suppliers tend to be mostly wholesalers selling in commercial sized frozen packs. I tried one and it was pumped up with so much water it was rubbish.
RIP Yorkies.
I am desolated.
Thai bacon is a travesty.