Derbyshire butcher's shops holding their own against the big supermarkets

New figures show butcher's shops in Derbyshire are coping well with the pressure of competing with big supermarkets.
Butcher's shops are continuing to do well in DerbyshireButcher's shops are continuing to do well in Derbyshire
Butcher's shops are continuing to do well in Derbyshire

The latest Office for National Statistics data shows there were 105 butcher's shops in Derbyshire in 2018, the same number as eight years earlier.

Across the United Kingdom, the number of butcher's shops has dropped by nine per cent since 2010, due to the 'rising dominance' of big supermarkets, experts say.

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In England, there were 5,105 businesses in 2018, compared with 5,635 in 2010.

Butcher's shops are continuing to do well in DerbyshireButcher's shops are continuing to do well in Derbyshire
Butcher's shops are continuing to do well in Derbyshire

The data does not include butchers in supermarkets.

Chris Mallon, chief executive of the National Beef Association, said very aggressive tactics from big chains are forcing many small businesses to close for good.

He said: "The steady decline of butcher's shops in the last 30 years has been a result of the dominance of large retailers in the food sector, driving market prices down.

"For small butcher's shops, it is near impossible to compete with supermarket deals such as 'buy one, get one free' and 'special offers'".

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Mr Mallon dismissed claims that the decline in butcher's shops was due to the rise of veganism.

Mike Cherry, national chairman of the Federation of Small Businesses, added: "Increasing employment costs, high rents and competition especially from large online brands, is creating the perfect storm for small firms in the food industry.

"The biggest issue continues to be the outdated business rates system which disproportionately hurts small businesses.

“Businesses such as butcher's shops must also contend with the changing lifestyles of their customers with an increasing interest in more sustainable ways of living."

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Experts also pointed to the high average age of a lot of independent butchers, with many having trouble finding someone to inherit the business.

A survey by the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board’s beef and lamb division showed that 75 per cent of butchers had been working for more than 20 years.

In the United Kingdom, there are 6,500 butcher's shops registered, while in 2010 there were 7,130 - a drop of nine per cent.