Butchers to open as part of Hednesford revamp
A family-run butchers will be opening up in Hednesford as part of its multi-million pound redevelopment, creating 10 new jobs.
It comes as bosses from Whitehouse Brothers Butchers revealed business had been booming since the horse meat scandal.
The new shop at Chase Gateway will open at the start of April and will be the firm's third branch in the region.
Owner Andy Whitehouse said: "Our new store is in a prime position at the new Hednesford town centre development, and it's creating 10 new jobs. We have been much busier since the horse meat scandal broke.
"People are not trusting supermarkets like Tesco any more but they are trusting what they get here. I don't sell any ready-made meals and I make my own beef burgers so I can guarantee what's in them. Plus I can tell the difference between beef and horse."
Other local butchers have noticed a boom in profits in recent weeks since it was revealed traces of horse meat had found their way into a number of products in supermarkets.
Some butchers have said profits are up by 50 per cent, including Michael Kirk butchers in Wolverhampton.
Around £50 million is being pumped into the transformation of Hednesford town centre, which also includes the revamp of Victoria Shopping Park.
Other businesses at Chase Gateway off the A460 Rugeley Road include supermarket Aldi, Boyd's Hair Design and Barnardo's.
Construction began on the 10-acre regeneration project for Hednesford town centre in April 2011 after St Modwen was granted planning approval by Cannock Chase Council.
St Modwen development surveyor Mark Watkins said: "We are pleased that established retailers like Whitehouse Brothers are taking advantage of the growing footfall and vibrant trading environment at our regeneration of Hednesford town centre.
"Chase Gateway and Victoria Shopping Park are now fast offering an enviable mix of high street shops with traditional independent stores, and we look forward to welcoming more retailers in due course."
Whitehouse Brothers was established in 1986 and already has stores in Burntwood and Cannock.
At the new Victoria Shopping Park, Tesco, Costa Coffee, Pets Corner, Phones 4u and Lloyds Pharmacy are all trading.
