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Review summary

Created with AI, based on recent reviews

Considering 220 reviews, reviewers had a great experience with this company. Customers consistently praise the excellent quality of the products, particularly the beef and lamb, noting their delicious taste and lean content. Many appreciate the efficient delivery service, with orders arriving on time, well-packaged, and still frozen. The customer service team is frequently highlighted for being friendly, efficient, and quick to resolve any issues. However, some customers have experienced issues with delivery, including delays, missing items, or defrosted products upon arrival. A few people also mentioned dissatisfaction with the quality of certain cuts, citing excessive fat or gristle, and some noted a decrease in the availability of specific products like free-range pork and poultry.

What people talk about most

Product

Users describe ambiguous interactions with product. Many customers praise the excellent quality of the meat,... See more

Quality

Consumers find quality to be ambiguous. Many reviewers praise the excellent quality of the meat, describing... See more

Delivery service

Customers consistently note ambiguous experiences with delivery service. While some reviewers praise timely... See more

Order

Reviewers highlight ambiguous aspects of order. Many customers report issues like missing items, unannounced... See more

Customer service

People report ambiguous experiences with customer service. Many customers express dissatisfaction, citing... See more

Reviews shaping this summary

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

Been using DR for years. Good quality food at great prices if you make the most of offers etc. Never had any issues that have not been easily & quickly resolved by their friendly& efficient customer s... See more

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

I buy beef and lamb products from Donald Russell and they are excellent and good value. It's unfortunate, however, that they have ceased to offer free-range pork and poultry products, so I have to go... See more

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

I ordered meat regularly from D R before covid and wouldnt have gone anywhere else. Top quality, choice, price, delivery. This is my 3rd order since these days and i find some of the prices rathe... See more

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Last minute decision to order the Beef Wellington for Christmas day. Ordered on Tuesday with discount as new Customer, delivered today (Thursday) exactly as promised. Well packaged, frozen with dry ic... See more


Company details

  1. Food, Beverages & Tobacco

Written by the company

Based in Aberdeenshire, a region renowned for its high quality produce, Donald Russell is an award-winning fine food specialist and supplier to some of the world’s top restaurants. Enjoyed by customers all over the UK, their passion for great-tasting food has earned them the status of Royal Warrant holder for almost 50 years and 34 Great Taste awards, as judged by discerning Food Critics. Their extensive range includes grass-fed British beef and lamb, locally landed seafood, fully prepared meals and much more.


Contact info

3.8

Great

TrustScore 4 out of 5

3K reviews

5-star
4-star
3-star
2-star
1-star

Replied to 46% of negative reviews

Typically replies within 1 week

How this company uses Trustpilot

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Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Missing items and no response

My first order and the most expensive item I ordered was missing. After that, many emails and complaints but no news from any one. I am not sure if this is a company run by real people or they have some chat bots managing customers!! I get daily emails selling me something ot new promos but no resolution to my issue!!
The customer service email does not work or they don’t care

January 10, 2026
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Ordered 2 Cote de Beouf in December £26…

Ordered 2 Cote de Beouf in December £26 each, absolutely awful cuts, sinewy, tuff I have photos, phoned Donald Russell several times, kept waiting no answer, sent 3 emails with photo, no reply as of 14th Jan 26, all I can say is they seem not to care, this is one customer of many years who will never use them again, I can understand meat quality can be difficult to control all the time, but it is the customer service that is the issue, appalling.

January 8, 2026
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Worst company ever

Worst company ever ; never respond to ur emails my elderlery mum ordered her christmas dinner from them and they sent her a completely different order they said the labels got mixes up now they arent even responding there a joke

December 23, 2025
Unprompted review
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Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Great produce from Donald Russell

My second time ordering from DR but this time we pushed the boat out a little more and took advantage of some fantastic deals. 10 sirloin steaks for £70 was outrageous, we had the first one for dinner tonight and it was far 'beefier' than a steak from the high street. Absolutely delicious. We ordered some butchers sausages which were also lovely, meatier again than some from the high street but very smooth and easy to eat. Finally, mum loves calves liver so I cooked her some for a treat and it was absolutely beautiful. Tender and no gristle. If you get good deals, it's also not really that much more expensive than most supermarkets and you're getting great quality produce.

January 1, 2026
Unprompted review
Rated 5 out of 5 stars

An Entirely Good Experience All Round.

I loved the packaging in big polystyrene trunks packed with dry ice. Beautifully packed btw. No damage at
all.
The food was all delicious and my daughter and l had the most wonderful Christmas Fayre.
('Special shout out for the red cabbage and the sprouts with walnuts - such a pleasure. Mine never tasted so yummy!)
We never got to the bottom of the missing parsnips but our order was put in late and it is entirely possible theyran out.
Despite this, so impressed were we, l have put in another order since Christmas.
Many thanks.

December 18, 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Don’t touch Donald Russell

Placed Christmas order on 21/09/25 for delivery on 20/12/25. Received notification from FedEx on 15/12/25 to say awaiting item from DR. Didn’t arrive on 20/12/25 and delivery date changed to 23/12/25. FedEx notification on 22/12/25 showed still waiting on item from DR. Phoned DR and assured item will be delivered 23/12/25. Waited in all day and surprise surprise no delivery. Phoned FedEx and according to them still waiting on order from DR. Phoned DR on 24/12/25 to be told they would need to check with FedEx and someone will phone back. Waited and waited no phone call. I eventually had to phone back to be told my order is lost but don’t worry we’ll refund your money (really) and a code for £20 off next order. Christmas dinner destroyed and they fob you off with peanuts. Still waiting on payment returned to my account. The £20 code if received will not be getting used as I’m now finished with DR after many years.

PS MANAGED TO BUY A TURKEY CROWN FROM A WELL KNOWN SUPERMARKET 60% CHEAPER THAN DR AND FAR SUPERIOR.

December 24, 2025
Unprompted review
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Rated 5 out of 5 stars

I love Donald Russell food

I love Donald Russell food. I ordered Christmas dinner for 8 and it was superb. The pudding was also included and it was also superb. THANK YOU

December 25, 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

follow up re last review - the meat was not edible. to-day to my recent review about awful…

further to my recent review about awful delivery we have now tried the large sirloin joint. Almost all was not eaten as the really thick gristle throughout the meat not only made it impossible to eat but was also off putting. So just over £80.00 worth of meat went in the bin. From start to finish this order has been mostly dreadful - the sausagemeat for stuffing and the red cabbage were ok. Your standards have dropped and whoever cut this piece of meat and bagged it up for sale needs to be educated as to what is acceptable.
Never again Donald Russell. Not only have I wasted money, wasted time and electricity, my family were left to eat veg and sausagement today for their Christmas lunch. I will not recommend, or use, you again.

December 25, 2025
Unprompted review
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Rated 1 out of 5 stars

I ordered from Donald Russell on 11th…

I ordered from Donald Russell on 11th October specifically for Christmas delivery, so I was very disappointed when my box arrived missing a leg of lamb.

I find it difficult to understand why there was no prior communication or heads-up, especially given how far in advance the order was placed and how important Christmas orders are to customers. Had I known earlier, I could have made alternative arrangements.

I phoned customer service, and while I appreciate that it may not have been the fault of the individual staff member, I was disappointed that the response was limited to an explanation rather than a goodwill gesture. For a premium brand, and particularly at Christmas, I would have expected at least some acknowledgment of the inconvenience caused.

Overall, it was a sad and frustrating experience, and not what I would expect from a company positioning itself as a high-quality Christmas food supplier.

December 23, 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

No Christmas lunch...

I ordered my Christmas lunch online on 19th September 2025. It was due for delivery on 23rd December 2025. The courier employed by Donald Russell is Fedex and they have failed to deliver my order. It is now Christmas eve and I have no Christmas lunch. I don't drive and have Osteoarthritis so am unable to go out and purchase any replacements. Although I appreciate that Donald Russell are not to blame for my lack of Christmas fayre this year they are the ones that employ these couriers and must take responsibility. They emailed me a little while ago to apologise and they have said they will refund my payment, but that does not compensate for my lack of lunch tomorrow. The half-hearted way they have handled this is quite frankly unbelievable and I would not recommend this company to anyone irrespective of the quality of the food.

December 23, 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Completely unreliable

Ordered meats for our Christmas dinner and only half the order turned up (on 23rd December). I phoned customer services and they confirmed they were missing items so sent half the order (but didn't give us any advance warning so that we could save the Christmas dinner). There are so many online high quality butchers - just use another one and avoid risking your special event :)

December 23, 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 5 out of 5 stars

First time have used this company but…

First time have used this company but they made my life so much easier. As a vegetarian I had to cook a lamb joint. I purchased a lamb shoulder. It arrived on time, beautifully packaged and was so easy and convenient to cook. All of my guests loved the quality of the meat and the marinade they used. Will definitely be using them again

December 20, 2025
Unprompted review
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Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Everything great and arrived quickly!

Last minute decision to order the Beef Wellington for Christmas day. Ordered on Tuesday with discount as new Customer, delivered today (Thursday) exactly as promised. Well packaged, frozen with dry ice. Looks amazing but lets see on Christmas day once it's cooked. They came recommended by a friend that's had it before so I'm looking forward to it!

December 18, 2025
Unprompted review

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