A Nantwich farm shop is cashing in on the horsemeat scandal, with trade soaring by 100%.
Cheerbrook, on Newcastle Road, has benefited from the negative publicity aimed at supermarkets over the scandal.
Andrew Shufflebotham, who runs the Cheerbrook Farm Shop, says the fact they can vouch for products being locally sourced is luring disgruntled shoppers away from cheaper superstores.
“We have been making our own ready meals since the shop opened and they have always been popular, but sales have doubled over the last month,” he said.
“We can vouch for the integrity of everything we produce which is more than some supermarkets and food producers can, no wonder they were so cheap.
“There is a perception we are dear but we use prime local meat and everything is locally sourced. People want their burgers and lasagne to be beef – not horse.”
Andrew attended the FARMA National Farm Shop conference in Harrogate where retailers agreed customers want to be sure where their food comes from and what’s in it.
“The group had a real feeling of customers appreciating that it pays to shop where they can genuinely trust the quality and the origin of the meat products, especially with ready meals, burgers and mince,” he added.
He says Cheerbrook meat goes from the farm to the counter to the dinner plate – the shortest possible food chain.”
Cheshire East Council Leader Michael Jones said people should “buy local and eat local” to ensure they get the best, genuine meat.
“Cheshire East farmers, local butchers and farm shops need and deserve our full support,” he said.
“I buy lots of local meat. I have an excellent local butcher, who makes fantastic sausages – but there are lots of other great local shops and suppliers across the Borough.
“Farmers in Cheshire East need to be supported by our eating and buying from local butchers who butcher meat on site and process it on site from locally-sourced, trusted suppliers.
“Cheshire is famous for the quality of its meats and farm produce – and people are justifiably proud of its high reputation. We need to show our support by voting with our wallets and purses.”
Michael Jones gets a fortune in expenses and allowances every year – he has a big fat wallet and can afford to buy the most expensive meat. Just shows how out-of-touch he is with ordinary folk who do not have an expenses trough at their disposal. But, in general, hitting the supermarkets where it hurts, i.e. in their pockets, is excellent. It might force them to stop putting rubbish on their shelves. Money is what they’re really interested in so it is the most powerful weapon for change.