The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Resurgence of high street butchers welcomed
QUALITY: Consumers increasingly respect origin of local meat and knowledge
When one of Fife’s best known food producers, Puddledub, opens a new butcher shop in the former McDonald’s premises on Kirkcaldy High Street in early July, it will be welcomed by the local business community as an example of trying to re-think the use of town centre premises.
The property is already host to two thriving businesses, Cupcake Coffee Box and the Gelato Box, and the business owners, Simon Dugmore and Mike Lowe, are keen to use their ‘community hub’ to explore new ventures and business ideas. They look forward to welcoming the Puddledub team.
But coming just a couple of years after Minick opened a store in Cupar’s Crossgate, it is also further evidence of a resurgence of traditional butchers shops in Courier Country high streets.
Puddledub owner and co-founder Tom Mitchell said after testing the water with a pop-up shop over the Easter weekend, Puddledub had decided to open the Kirkcaldy shop permanently.
“As a local farming business selling our products directly, this local support is a massive boost for us,” said Tom.
“Opening this butcher shop, allows our customers the convenience of a high street shop but with assured product provenance and traditional methods of preparation.”
Will Docker, chairman of Food From Fife and founder of Balgove Larder at St Andrews, said: “Traditional butcheries are regaining market share following a widening gap between volume supermarket meat and the single-link supply chain, real meat sold by independent retailers. It is vital to know exactly what you and your family are eating and this is sometimes not possible with mile-long supply chains and detrimental margin cuts at every link.”
A spokesman for the Q Guild of Butchers said: “We work with over 120 of Britain’s best high street butchers, serving £5 million worth of outstanding meat and related products to over a quarter of a million discerning UK consumers every week.
“These butchers are thriving precisely because they are focusing on quality produce and their customers value their traditional skills and knowledge.
“At the end of the day, great service and top quality produce never goes out of fashion.”