Horsemeat scandal good news for Medway butchers
JC Rook Butchers owner
Ray Webb with customer Diane King
by Alan McGuinness
The horsemeat scandal is proving to
be good news for the Towns’ butchers.
Many have experienced an increase
in business in the wake of the furore, which has seen many
supermarket chains admit horsemeat has found its way into processed
beef products.
People appear to be ditching ready
meals in favour of fresh produce, which is good news for our meat
men.
Roger Kelsey, chief executive of
the National Federation of Meat and Food Traders, estimated his
members had enjoyed a 10-15% boost in business since mid-January
with up to a 50% increase in the demand for sausages, mince and
burgers.
One of those who has benefited is
Ray Webb, manager of JC Rook Butchers in Gillingham High
Street.
Mr Webb, who has been at the shop
for 35 years, said he had seen a 20% increase in sales.
He said: “I’ve seen a lot of new
faces. It’s been great for us and I know for other butchers it’s
been the same.”
The shop has a sign above the meats
on offer. It tells customers that all of it comes from Castle Farm
in Sevenoaks.
Mr Webb added: “You get what you
pay for.”
Dennis Hills, whose shop in
Frindsbury Road, Rochester, bears his name, was similarly
upbeat.
He said mince and burgers were
particularly popular: “People are coming in who I’ve never seen
before. 
"For some of them it’s the first
time they’ve been into a butchers. People want transparency.”
Eric Davey, who has run a shop in
Station Road, Rainham, for 18 years, was little more cautious.
He said: “We’ve noticed a
reasonable increase, but we can’t tell how long it will last.”
As the horsemeat scandal
continues, Medway Council has banned all processed
meat from its school meals until further notice.
While The Manor Farm Beefeater in
Rainham and the Honourable Pilot Brewers Fayre in
Gillingham have withdrawn meat products after owners
Whitbread said it found horse DNA in two products from
suppliers.
28/02/13
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