Eastbourne butcher triumphs at Sussex awards

- Published: 08 February, 2010

Bob Young, owner of Meads Village Butchers in Eastbourne has been voted butcher of the year at the Sussex Food & Drink awards.

Young, 52, beat off competition from Renhurst Farm shop near Tunbridge Wells, and Westdene Butchers, Brighton.

A fivefold turnover increase, and a well-planned press and radio advertising campaign, along with his extensive use of local suppliers led to Young winning the Butcher of the Year award.

“The locals are really proud of their area, they like small, independent shops, and we’ve tapped into that,” says Young. “They want value for money, but above all else they’re looking for quality meat and good service.”

Young has been a butcher for 36 years, working in a succession of independent Sussex outlets, in between managerial roles for the Co-operative Group and distribution company Southover Foods.

It is the fourth running of the Taste of Sussex awards, with over 9,000 people voting for more than 300 food and drink businesses in both East and West Sussex.

According to Clive Beddall, chairman of the judges, “Sussex food and drink producers are now leading the way in the UK’s local food revolution.”

Taste of Sussex is a part of Sussex Enterprises and JustBIZ web solutions.