Shoppers go back to the butcher’s

9:50am Sunday 17th February 2013 in News

BUTCHERS are seeing a rise in trade in the wake of the horsemeat scandal.

Shopkeepers in Bolton say customers who previously went to supermarkets are turning to independent butchers for reassurance and to learn more about the meat they eat.

The horsemeat scandal has exposed some meat supply chains spanning six European countries and sometimes involving eight different firms.

Greg Hull, owner of Fraser’s Butchers in Rishton Lane, Great Lever, said sales of fresh beef, lamb and pork and prepared minced beef meals — including lasagne, bolognese and burgers — had risen by up to 22 per cent.

Mr Hull, aged 52, said: “We are a member of the Q-Guild, an association of master butchers, and all our meat is fully traceable.

“We know where every single animal has come from and we deal with farmers personally.

We know that our carcasses really are pigs, lambs and cattle.

There are no horses slipped in.”

He said the two abattoirs that the shop uses are in Shaw, near Oldham, and John Penny and Sons in Rawdon, near Leeds.

He added: “We’re here to run a business, but not at any expense. We have no shareholders.

I’d stand on the highest building to shout that our meat is fully traceable.

“We used to be supplied by a beef farmer in the Shetlands but it went out of business because the supermarkets kept forcing the prices down.

“People should really use their local greengrocers, fishmongers and butchers.”

Blackrod butcher Jamie McRobb said sales had risen at his shop too.

The 21-year-old took over the business, which employs three staff, 18 months ago. He said: “We’ve seen a lot of people who used to go to supermarkets coming back to the butcher.

“Our meat is local or from farms as close as we can get.

Beef comes from an Aberdeen Angus herd behind the shop reared by Richard Ashworth.

“Lamb and pork is also local, from Westhoughton, and our homemade sausages and bacon are made with the same meat.

We use the Blacklidge slaughterhouse in Wigan. We know everyone in the supply chain.”

Joseph Carr, manager of Carrs Pasties in Bolton, which makes pasties and meat pies, said: “All our beef comes from local farms and we then mince it ourselves here. We only use the best beef possible and nothing is processed. We know it’s beef and nothing else.

“We also supply pasties to local schools and people can be sure that our meat comes from local farms. We only use the best ingredients.”

Sandra Ogden, head of retail operations at Lostock-based baker Greenhalghs, added: “We would like to assure customers all the meat used in our products is from approved suppliers who have been through a rigorous supplier approval process.”

Comments(16)

underwater says...
10:18am Sat 16 Feb 13

It was obvious that the burgers in supermarkets were dodgy when they were being sold so cheap at the time of William and Kates wedding. I would not trust supermarkets. Get yourslf along to Thornbers on Chorley Old Road in Bolton. Great meat and good service.

Report this post »

oftbewildered2 says...
10:48am Sat 16 Feb 13

I started using my local butcher more in recent months - found him to be cheaper than the supermarkets, meat of better quality and I could purchase as much or as little as I wished. He also has a wider selection of cuts etc. He also gives good advice on how to store, cook etc. if there is anything I am unsure of.

Report this post »

boltonnut says...
11:54am Sat 16 Feb 13

It's all about beating your meat.

Report this post »

Hough64 says...
1:10pm Sat 16 Feb 13

boltonnut wrote:
It's all about beating your meat.
I am no prude by any means but an old man coming on here and saying such things just seems so wrong.

Report this post »

dougie kay says...
8:01pm Sat 16 Feb 13

Don't see what all the fuss is about .A dodgy burger served with a little horse radish sauce won't go amiss. Indeed, why not go for the full three course option with horse mushroom soup as a starter, the mane course as mentioned for afters .how about a red rum and horse chestnut pudding with caramelized ,SHergar washed down with a good quality hock, if you don't fancy the burger try a piece of saddle

Report this post »

jus' visitin says...
10:28am Sun 17 Feb 13

Now this is where the butchers increase their prices ten-fold. Looks like someone's a winner. Can't blame them though.

Report this post »

Rememberscarborough says...
11:32am Sun 17 Feb 13

I know that all these butchers are saying that all their products are fully traceable and from approved suppliers but this is exactly what all the supermarkets would say. The public are now distrustfull of anything anyone says be they food suppliers, politicians or any sort of official. The trust has been broken and it may never be regained. These corrupt people have a hell of a lot to answer for but I doubt they'll ever be brought to account for what they've done.

Report this post »

AdeleTeresa says...
2:17pm Sun 17 Feb 13

jus' visitin wrote:
Now this is where the butchers increase their prices ten-fold. Looks like someone's a winner. Can't blame them though.
Yep hit the nail on the head there..

Report this post »

AdeleTeresa says...
2:19pm Sun 17 Feb 13

dougie kay wrote:
Don't see what all the fuss is about .A dodgy burger served with a little horse radish sauce won't go amiss. Indeed, why not go for the full three course option with horse mushroom soup as a starter, the mane course as mentioned for afters .how about a red rum and horse chestnut pudding with caramelized ,SHergar washed down with a good quality hock, if you don't fancy the burger try a piece of saddle
X-)

Report this post »

127001 says...
5:09pm Sun 17 Feb 13

The thing is...

What do consumers expect when buying a ready meal from a supermarket for £3?

Grass fed
Award winning
Prime cuts

of beef?

You'd think that Supermarket chains would be testing EVERY batch of product they get from a third party.

It's purely cutting corners and making a profit at no cost to them. They could not give a toss about the end consumer.

Buy local, dump the supermarkets... in any case the amount of crap in processed foods is not good for anyone.

Report this post »

wsw69 says...
1:06am Mon 18 Feb 13

Supermarkets are no good for anyone, have no morals at all - so long as they can part us with as much as possible. The sad part is over the last 40+ years we have lost so many of our great local retailers.

I for one do not buy from supermarkets, it's always local independent, and I only buy what I need thus not spending more than I think I need.

Report this post »

georgethebrave says...
10:54am Mon 18 Feb 13

I wouldn't mind eating horse if it was labelled as horse. But go into your local supermarket and buy a leg of NZ lamb and it isn't labelled as halal when it should be, but not so much as a whisper when this was exposed a couple of years ago. I for one object to being sold falsely labelled halal meat as I think it is slaughtered in the most barbaric way, and also object to it being killed as a sacrifice to a god I don't believe in!! The FSA need to get their act together and label meat in accordance with country of origin, how it was slaughtered etc etc! I for one always check the EEC code on the label before I buy, a quick google search on my phone tells me what the FSA won't.

Report this post »

frankbough says...
12:28pm Mon 18 Feb 13

Brandwoods on Bolton Market is my shout for a good butcher

Report this post »

Omhn1000 says...
5:02pm Mon 18 Feb 13

Be careful where you shop in Bolton, zero samples taken for 2012 by Bolton Council for food safety.

http://www.independe
nt.co.uk/life-style/
food-and-drink/news/
horsemeat--special-r
eport-public-confide
nce-drops-as-food-go
es-untested-8498246.
html

Good luck

Report this post »

steveG says...
9:17pm Mon 18 Feb 13

Omhn1000 wrote:
Be careful where you shop in Bolton, zero samples taken for 2012 by Bolton Council for food safety. http://www.independe nt.co.uk/life-style/ food-and-drink/news/ horsemeat--special-r eport-public-confide nce-drops-as-food-go es-untested-8498246. html Good luck
Was there ever testing on ready meals to ensure the contents were as stated?.
From what I've read it wouldn't surprise me if horsemeat has been present in ready meals for decades.

Report this post »

boltonnut says...
1:46pm Tue 19 Feb 13

Haugh64,you are a dried up, humourless,miserable
,cynical,sarcastic,c
austic,bitter old person.Every one comments on these facts.When was the last time you smiled?,WE know you can't laugh.Find something positive in your pathetic life.

Report this post »

click2find

About cookies

We want you to enjoy your visit to our website. That's why we use cookies to enhance your experience. By staying on our website you agree to our use of cookies. Find out more about the cookies we use.

I agree