When the going gets tough

Clearly there are many among you who are starting to feel the pinch, as consumers heed the coalition's "age of austerity" warnings and tighten the old belt a few more notches. And we're facing increasing challenges, from tougher stances on issues such as tax or parking charges to the big supermarkets getting down and dirty in the trenches.

Indeed, the move by Morrisons, one of the few retailers to retain a proportion of its butchery skills, towards convenience could pose some challenges for high street retailers. But we've been here before, and we'll probably be here again. Butchers have weathered many storms over the last few decades and I would say you are stronger now than you have ever been.

Certainly, we've seen a great deal of innovation in this year's entries to our Butcher's Shop of the Year Awards, with some great ideas that we could all learn from. I'd like to congratulate all our entrants and finalists into the competition this year the judging process was tough. But if the standard of entries to this year's competition is anything to go by, the industry is heading into this "age of austerity" from a position of strength.

It's also good to see a butcher, Roger Kelsey, take the helm at the National Federation of Meat & Food Traders. Hopefully his insight through his many years in the trade will allow him to drive the Federation forwards to the benefit of all its members.

Printer friendly version

Email this article to a friend

Bookmark this

---