5 Reasons Why You Should Shop With Your Local Butcher

There are a few reasons why you might not feel comfortable shopping with your local Butcher. If you normally shop at a supermarket, are you willing to give your local butcher a try? If so, here are 5 reasons why you should…

Support the local economy

This is probably the most important benefit at the moment. Our economy as a whole has taken a huge hit in the recent pandemic. It is important now more than ever that we support our local businesses as we come slowly out of lockdown. High street Butchers are becoming rare, so it is important we support the good ones that are left. During lockdown local shops have provided a lifeline in our communities. Smaller independent businesses stepped up to provide essential deliveries and a safer shopping experience. Many customers have been so impressed with the service that they have made the decision to carry on shopping local.

If the existing local shops can continue to survive we can encourage more diverse independent retailers to open This creates a foundation for a thriving local community to come back to life.

Friendly and knowledgeable personal service

Your local Butcher wants nothing more than the meat you buy from them to be the best you ever tasted. They want you to be so happy with your meat that you go and tell all your friends and get them to try the Butchers too!

Sometimes customers can feel intimidated about shopping at their local Butchers. Not sure of the cuts of meat you need? What weight to ask for or how to cook it? This is where your local Butcher really comes into their own. They will help you choose a cut of meat that is right for you. They will advise on how much you need to feed your family and even give you advice on the best ways to cook your chosen cut. The key thing to remember is don’t be afraid to ask! Your Butcher will be more than happy to share their knowledge, make suggestions and give tips on how to get the best from your chosen cuts. 

Value for money and quality of product

Some people think shopping with local Butchers is expensive. While it may be true that you might pay a little more for your meat compared with supermarkets (although not always), we believe the benefits of quality, freshness, choice and service make it a far more value for money and enjoyable experience than shopping at the supermarket.

The journey our meat takes from farm to plate is considerably shorter. Take our beef for example, every week we purchase the best Belgian Blue Heifers available at either Wigton, Carlisle or NorthAllerton markets. Each beast can be traced back to the farm it came from in the UK. The beef is then slaughtered and hung for 28 days. This gives a chance for enzymes in the meat to break down proteins which improve the tenderness and development of flavour. In contrast, supermarkets are always price driven. Their beef is often slaughtered and on the shelves within a matter of a few days. This means their beef lacks flavour and will be tough in comparison. They usually use bull meat which is tougher and has less fat than Heifer meat – less fat means less flavour!

Once our beef has been hung, our expert Butchers get to work creating all the cuts you love. From minced beef to sirloin steak, not a scrap will go to waste. It’s not just our beef that is top quality. We make sure that every single piece of meat in our shop is of the highest standard, and our customers trust us to deliver that every week.

Choice

Supermarkets only stock what they know will sell, so you may find your favourite cut or less popular cuts simply aren’t available. If there is something you fancy that we don’t have in stock, we can usually order it for you. If you are planning something special, we can advise you on which cuts are best, how much you will need and the best way to cook it.

It can be tough thinking of new ideas to feed your family, often we get stuck in a rut cooking the same old dishes. We are a creative lot and sometimes we try a new sausage flavour, a delicious new chicken kebab flavour, new ready meals or a new burger flavour, so if you see something new in the shop give it a try! Our staff are happy to listen to any ideas you may have for new products and flavours. 

Always know what you are getting

Supermarkets have so many shelves to fill all over the UK. Their meat can come from many countries and is difficult to trace. We have daily deliveries, your meat is butchered on site and presented fresh each day. If the meat isn’t up to the standard our customers expect then it doesn’t even make it into our chiller. We won’t let our standards slip just to sell meat that is past its best.

If you want those extra chunky fillet steaks for a special weekend treat, no problem! We can cut them to the size you need right off the fillet. Similarly, if you want advice on how to make the most from less expensive cuts, we are happy to help.

If you decide to take the leap from your usual supermarket, you will become more knowledgeable about the meat you eat, get more from your purchases, cook more adventurous recipes, get more value for money AND support the local economy.

Your local Butchers will keep you coming back for more and leave you wondering whatever took you so long to try!