Ipswich: Town’s butchers benefiting from horsemeat scandal

PEOPLE across the town have been giving supermarkets a wide berth in favour of stocking up at their local butchers, following the recent horsemeat scandal.

Butchers in Ipswich have seen customers flocking in in search of burgers and sausages from trusted local sources.

George Debman, owner of Debman Butchers in Cliff Lane, said: “It’s definitely had an impact, we’re seeing more people come through the door.

“People have had enough of the supermarkets and are going back to real butchers because the majority of butchers have traceability.

“Also, with the recession, people are watching their pennies and finding that butchers are cheaper for meat than supermarkets.”

Gary Brame, manager of W T Parish Butchers in Westgate Street, is doubtful that supermarkets will ever regain the trust of consumers after the scandal.

“We’re getting a lot of people coming into the shop saying they won’t go back to the supermarkets because they don’t trust where the meat comes from,” he said. Paul Mickelson, owner of P J Mickelson & Son in Woodbridge Road, noticed a lot of new customers coming in, but is doubtful the surge will last.

He said: “Scares are always good for local butchers, but people usually go back to supermarkets eventually. We all use supermarkets because of the convenience, but it’s been good for us and I hope it continues.”

Spencer Mann, owner of Mann’s Family Butcher in Nacton Road, added: “I think people buy meat in supermarkets for the convenience and not for the taste.”