Whittlesey butcher makes appeal for customers on social media

John Devine/BBC Mark Field is smiling at the camera behind the counter of his shop. He has a bald head and a beard, and is wearing a red and white striped apron and a black jumper under that. Behind him are price signs for his shop and a till. — Mark Field said the cost of living had impacted his sales

A shop that has housed butchery businesses for more than 100 years faces an uncertain future unless more people use it.

Jones Butchers has stood on Broad Street in Whittlesey, near Peterborough, since 1957 and before it, two other butchers dating back to the early 1900s have been there.

Mark Field, a butcher with 30 years’ experience, took over the business in June but has appealed for more customers on social media, putting his struggles down to the cost of living and the convenience of supermarkets.

Trade association National Craft Butchers (NCB) said beef prices were at an historic high, with the cost of meat generally rising 17%, which had made it tough for independent butchers.

Mr Field said working for other people was a lot easier with less worry, but he had always wanted to run his own shop

Mark Field Mark Field stands outside his butchers' shop. He is wearing a grey flat cap and a black T-shirt and dark trousers. There is a brown wooden door on the left and two large windows in the centre and to the right. A blue sign above the shop says "Butchers", "J.Jones of Whittlesey" and "Deli". — Mr Field said working for other people was a lot easier with less worry, but he had always wanted to run his own shop

After always working for other people in the butchery industry, Mr Field, 47, thought he would try and go it alone and run his own shop after an opportunity arose.

“I am not regretting taking it on because I have a love for the job and I’ve always wanted to do this,” he said.

But despite a summer perfect for barbecues, Mr Field said he had already been forced to cut down on staffing hours and upped his own shift patterns, working 60 hours a week.

There have been various butchery businesses at the same premises in Whittlesey for more than 100 years

GRAHAM JONES A black and white photo of a butchers' shop in the same location as it is now. A man in a striped apron is holding a large cow outside the premises. Another man is visible, again with a striped apron in front of the shop window, and a man and a woman can be seen in the shop doorway. Meat is hanging up from hooks in the shop window. — There have been various butchery businesses at the same premises in Whittlesey for more than 100 years

“Things have picked up a bit since I made the plea for more customers on Facebook last week, so I will keep my fingers crossed”, he said.

But he added: “The cost of meat has been rising across the board, and I think younger people can sometimes feel intimidated by coming in to a shop where they have to ask for something. They prefer picking up meat in packs from a supermarket.”

Adrian Cornwell said he had diversified to sell meats not usually found in supermarkets, like mutton, goat and even squirrel

BENT AND CORNWELL Adrian Cornwell has short grey hair and a stubbly chin. He is wearing dark framed glasses and a white shirt, with the straps of a blue apron visible around his neck. He is in a butchers' shop with yellow price tags hanging behind him. — Adrian Cornwell said he had diversified to sell meats not usually found in supermarkets, like mutton, goat and even squirrel

Adrian Cornwell, who runs Bent and Cornwell in Ely, noticed that business had also been quieter this year.

“We can’t compete with supermarkets on prices, but what we can do is share our vast knowledge with our customers on how best to prepare various cuts of meat,” he said.

Mr Cornwell added that he had tried to replicate how the supermarkets displayed their meat, because “that’s what the shopper expects”.

He agreed with Mr Field that the younger generation seemed to forgo visiting butchers’ shops, preferring the convenience of the supermarket.

Beef prices have increased to historic highs of £7 per kg due to constrained supply and continued consumer demand, said NCB.

According to the British Retail Consortium, food prices rose by 4% in July from a year earlier.

Meat prices have also increased by 17% up to June this year.

John Mettrick said people would travel miles to buy a quality sausage, bacon or pies – “it’s what you hang your hat on if you’re a butcher”

John Mettrick John Mettrick has a black flat cap and a blue and white striped butchers' apron on. He is wearing glasses and some grey hair is visible on the side of his head, under his cap. Behind him is a butchers' shop, with meats in cabinets and vacuum-packed goods in a basket on the counter. — John Mettrick said people would travel miles to buy a quality sausage, bacon or pies – “it’s what you hang your hat on if you’re a butcher”

John Mettrick, legislation director at NCB and a fifth generation butcher, said it was “tough for all businesses on the High Street, not just butchers”.

He said his own shop had managed to entice younger customers by selling “kitchen-ready” meals.

“I do a thing called ‘fake-a-ways’, stir fries, Indian dishes, all prepared ready for the oven, it saves so much time,” he said.

Credit: Source link