Horses for courses as local butchers get boost
Customers have had a "wake-up call" with supermarkets when it comes to buying their meat and are returning in their droves to local butchers, traders have said.
Butchers across the region have seen footfall and profits rise dramatically after the horse meat scandal broke and has gathered pace with this week's news that some Findus lasagne products was made up almost 100 per cent of horse meat.
The Food Standards Agency says that it is "highly likely" criminal activity was to blame, as consumers were warned not to eat the meals.
The frozen food company has apologised to customers and said refunds would be offered to anyone who bought the affected lasagne products, which were made by French food supplier Comigel.
But the scare has sent customers back to the traditional butcher. Nigel Higham, who runs Crown Butchers in Market Street, Stourbridge, said burger sales had doubled in the past two weeks.
"It's a wake-up call for customers," he said. "We've had people saying they're not going to use the supermarket for their meat now.
"We pride ourselves on how we present our products, which goes a long way with people. They know exactly where the meat is from."
Award-winning South Staffordshire-based Essington Fruit Farm has seen profits across its business go up 15 per cent in January and February when compared with the same period last year.
Owner Richard Simkin felt that people were taking more of an interest in where their products were being sourced from.
He added: "People are more aware now and are talking to us about the origins of the food.
"It's a scandal that the system can allow these things to happen, but it's more likely when the supply chain is so long."
In Wolverhampton, Michael Kirk butchers owner Michael Bachyk said: "It's a welcome boost for us but it's sad this has happened – people have been led down the wrong path."
