Producers sell through own butchers shop

A group of south Wales farmers has opened a high street butcher’s shop at Treharris in Glamorgan.

Inspired in part by Farmers Weekly’s food miles campaign, the five partners aim to sell meat from traditional breeds such as Welsh Black cattle and South Wales Welsh Mountain sheep.

Group chairman John Thomas, who farms at Trelewis, said the group hoped to add value to their prime stock as well as provide consumers with top quality, locally produced and processed lamb and beef.

“We know that the demand is there and meeting it can improve margins,” said Mr Thomas.

Lorraine Howells, of Cwm Carno Farm, Rhymney, supplied the first Welsh Black steer sold through the shop.

“We feel that communities in the valleys of south Wales deserve to have access to meat from the super quality stock reared and finished in the area,” she said.

“It is still uncertain how much value we can add after paying our costs, but I am convinced that we can succeed if local people back us.”

Ms Howells, a member of the Farmers Union of Wales’s finance and organisation committee, added that while only a few members of the group already tried direct selling, all were experienced and committed finishers of quality prime stock.

“We are already part of the food chain, but we want to develop our farm businesses by exploiting marketing opportunities beyond our farm gates.”

The shop, hoped to be the first of many, will promote the benefits of local meat to potential customers who might not have access to outlets like farm shops.

Gareth Vaughan, Farmers Union of Wales president, said the new venture would benefit consumers, producers and the environment.

“The initiative is a great example of the mutual benefits that can be achieved where farmers co-operate to achieve a common aim.” 

What do you think about this issue? Visit our forum thread to share your views