Derbyshire Dales butchers see sales surge

In the weeks since it emerged that horse DNA had been discovered in many budget food products, shoppers appear to be ditching supermarket meats in favour of their traditional local butcher.

Ed Armstrong, of New Close Farm Shop in Bakewell, said he had noticed a “dramatic increase” in customers since the scandal emerged.

He added that it was even becoming difficult to cater for the extra demand for “trustworthy” minced beef.

David Figg, of Hollands Butchers in Youlgreave, explained how “the big boys” had squeezed family butchers for many years and was pleased that their practices had finally been exposed.

He said: “Local butcher’s could not afford to pull a stunt like this for a quick buck – or else we would be finished.”

The horse meat scandal broke on January 17 when the Irish Food Safety Authority revealed beefburgers with traces of horse DNA were being supplied to supermarkets by the ABP Food Group.

Nick Coates, of E W Coates in Darley Dale, said: “We’ve had a lot of new customers who have completely lost faith in supermarket meats.”