The shop will open its doors within the next couple of weeks
The Butchers’ founder Emily Cardy and her father Chris Fry
A new butchers and farm shop is just weeks away from opening in Long Eaton. Work is currently under way to transform the former Wilko and Poundland shop into The Butchers.
The new shop will be the town’s only traditional butchers following the recent closure of Paul Walker Butchers. The owners announced it would close on September 27, blaming “circumstances beyond their control”.
The local community is eager for the new shop to open. “Prices will be competitive with local supermarkets,” said founder Emily Cardy, who is hoping to open the large unit within The Beeches shopping parade in mid-November after a couple of delays.
It follows an online poll in which she asked what put potential customers off shopping local. The majority (66 per cent) chose price as the biggest deterrent.
The meat counter will be stocked with premium British meat, including pork, beef, lamb, chicken and duck, as well as sausages, burgers, bacon, black pudding, ham and chorizo.
Setting the record straight, there won’t be kangaroo, after Emily’s earlier joke on Facebook backfired and was taken for real. “We get meat from Derbyshire and there’s a few speciality meats from different farmers such as guinea fowl and pheasant,” she said.
Part of the premises will be devoted to a farm shop. Fruit and vegetables, bread, cheeses, sauces, jams, fudge, chocolates and traybakes will be stocked.
Emily said: “We’ve got a wonderful dispenser unit where people can buy pasta, rice and things like that in the quantities they need, so it’s trying to go down more of that eco-friendly side but without being too pretentious about it.”
The Butchers will be opening in the former Poundland shop in Long Eaton
Grab-and-go cobs will be on sale — particularly handy for people on their way to work, catching the bus right outside the shop — along with takeaway coffee.
The shop is a first for the family-run company that was originally started by Emily’s father Chris Fry. He’s still a large part of the business and can currently be found painting inside the unit.
“He is the one people will see down there all the time. He’s painting at the moment. He had told me he does intend to retire at some point but I couldn’t possibly allow that to happen,” said Emily.
Up until now the business has had two strands. One has centred on meat manufacturing for the NHS and farm shops, the other is catering, supplying barbecues to high-profile clients, including Amazon and Jaguar Land Rover, as well as weddings and other private events.
Both will continue, operating out of the new premises after relocating from Hucknall. Customers will also be able to order freshly-made buffets to collect from the shop.
The firm’s new product development chef previously worked for MuscleFood, an online retailer known for its high-protein meals and snacks and lean meats, and it’s hoped at least one of the former employees at Paul Walker Butchers will be joining the staff team.
With the festive season fast approaching, the shop aims to supply more than just turkeys and other seasonal foods. Christmas trees will also be on sale.
Emily said: “This is our first retail store so we’re all very excited for it. Hopefully it all comes together. We’ve wanted to move to Long Eaton for a while. It’s closer to my kid’s school and we’ve wanted to stop the commute for a little while.”