James Hall and Butlers toast partnership on National Cheese Day

By James Hall & Co. Ltd

04 Jun 2024

James Hall & Co. Ltd x Butlers Farmhouse Cheeses 1.jpg.jpg

More than six months after a devastating fire at Butlers Farmhouse Cheeses, a partnership has flourished between the cheesemaker and SPAR wholesaler and distributor, James Hall & Co. Ltd.

In November 2023 in the busy run up to Christmas, Butlers’ office and packing site in Longridge was destroyed in a blaze.

James Hall & Co. Ltd, located just down the road at Bowland View in Preston, immediately came to Butlers’ aid by offering a model that would both ensure business continuity and help them meet essential festive orders.

Almost overnight, a full stock holding system was established at Bowland View which enabled the Butlers team a full record of every pallet held in the building, and an assembly space and a storage area was created within the warehouse for their Christmas cheese hampers.

Assistance was also provided on each of Butlers’ four-weekly stock takes, and a facility was set up to ensure they could product test up to 50 pallets on the same time cycle.

Transport was provided between the storage area at Bowland View and Butlers’ production facility, and initially over 700 pallets of stock were being stored in late 2023.

Since February 2024, the business arrangement has formalised. Hundreds of pallets at present continue to be stored at James Hall & Co. Ltd as Butlers has recovered, with pallets either coming or going between sites five days a week.

James Hall & Co. Ltd is now providing a transport service which allows Butlers to move some of their cheese to its new storage facility, while continuing to assist with the loading and organisation of third-party hauliers to collect from Bowland View.

Although not related, the families behind both businesses share the Hall name, and on National Cheese Day, Matthew Hall and Andrew Hall celebrate the success of the ongoing partnership. 

Matthew Hall, fourth generation owner of Butlers Farmhouse Cheeses, said: “Our devastating fire occurred at the busiest time of year in the run up to Christmas. 

“Geographically we are not far away from James Hall & Co. Ltd which was really helpful, and as a fourth-generation family business, our values align, and we share a similar ethos. I think because of that there was an understanding of the integration needed immediately, and processes were put in place overnight.

“We are incredibly grateful for the support we received at such a critical and difficult time. The ongoing help today with warehousing and distribution is also valued, and with both families sharing the Hall name too, you could say it was meant to be!”

Andrew Hall, joint managing director of James Hall & Co. Ltd, said: “I remember first hearing of the fire and my shock at seeing the damage. Offering business support to Matthew and the family at Butlers was simply the right thing to do in the circumstances.

“The team in the warehouse here at Bowland View really went the extra mile to support the Butlers operation at a time when we too as a business were in the middle of the festive rush, however we understood what needed to be done.

“I am delighted to see how the relationship has evolved in the months since, and reflecting on the partnership work, I think it has been a wonderful business lesson in what can be achieved in a very short space of time through trust, experience, and excellent communication.”

James Hall & Co. Ltd is a fifth-generation family business which serves a network of independent SPAR retailers and company-owned SPAR stores across Northern England six days a week from its base at Bowland View in Preston.

Latest news

1

Investment drives growth plan at CoolKit Coolkit Vans

Investment drives growth plan at CoolKit

11 Jul 2025

2

University of Lancashire climbs 14 places in student positivity survey Happy students at ULAN

University of Lancashire climbs 14 places in student positivity survey

10 Jul 2025

3

Forbes Solicitors achieves strong growth and promotes 15 Forbes Solicitors promotions

Forbes Solicitors achieves strong growth and promotes 15

10 Jul 2025

4

Communications company raises investment will fuel global expansion Laurence Tan (Investment Associate, Praetura Ventures); Charlie Morris (Director, Corporate Finance (Mergers & Acquisitions); Ian Rose (Chairman, Audiebant); Josh Dean (CEO, Audiebant); Peter Carway (Investment Director, Praetura Ventures)

Communications company raises investment will fuel global expansion

10 Jul 2025

5

Lancaster Spirits Company announces partnership with leading whisky maker Joan Casals, Max McFarlane and Chris Pateman

Lancaster Spirits Company announces partnership with leading whisky maker

09 Jul 2025

Background image for hub sign up block

LBV Hub

Leverage Lancashire Business View platforms

Post your news
Post your events
Post your offers
Build your network
Improve your SEO
Gain coverage in the magazine
Sign-up
Events
LBV123 July/August Launch Event
Lancashire Business View magazine launch
Networking
16 Jul 2025

LBV123 July/August Launch Event

Burnley College University Courses Building, Burnley, BB12 0AN

08:30 - 10:30

Lancashire Built Environment Conference 2025
BEC 315 X 315 Px
Networking
25 Sep 2025

Lancashire Built Environment Conference 2025

Blackpool Football Club, Blackpool, FY1 6HX

08:30 - 13:00

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course

Preston Campus, Preston, PR1 2HE

08:00 - 17:00

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course

Preston Campus, Preston , PR1 2HE

09:00 - 17:00

Shaping Preston's future by remembering its past
1750160034867.png.png
LBV Hub Networking
16 Jul 2025 - 16 Jul 2025

Shaping Preston's future by remembering its past

Society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

18:00 - 20:30

Chamber Summer BBQ
LBV Hub Social
17 Jul 2025 - 17 Jul 2025

Chamber Summer BBQ

The Borough, Dalton Square, Lancaster, LA1 1PP

17:30 - 20:00

Preston Tech Connection: Web3 is Dead. Or is It?
July Longer Banner.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Networking
29 Jul 2025 - 29 Jul 2025

Preston Tech Connection: Web3 is Dead. Or is It?

Society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

18:00 - 19:30

Preston Freelancer Meet-Up: July
Longer July Banner.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Networking
31 Jul 2025 - 31 Jul 2025

Preston Freelancer Meet-Up: July

Society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

10:00 - 11:30

Cumbria Business Expo 2025
https---cdn.evbuc.com-images-880461633-4862066883-1-original.20241022-110415.jpeg.jpg
LBV Hub Exhibitions
19 Sep 2025 - 19 Sep 2025

Cumbria Business Expo 2025

Carlisle Racecourse, Carlisle, CA2 4TS

09:00 - 15:00

North West Business Expo 2025
https---cdn.evbuc.com-images-880456273-4862066883-1-original.20241022-105445.jpeg.jpg
LBV Hub Exhibitions
24 Oct 2025 - 24 Oct 2025

North West Business Expo 2025

Bolton Stadium Hotel, Bolton, BL6 6SF

09:00 - 15:00

Lancashire Business Day 2025
241122lbvlancashiredaylhp0647web
Networking
27 Nov 2025

Lancashire Business Day 2025

Burnley FC , Burnley, BB10 4BX

12:00 - 17:00

Advertise with us

Reaching 50,000 members, our print, digital and event platforms offer a fantastic way to raise your business profile and help you grow.

Find out more LBV122 Online Graphic
Subscribe now

Weekly news bulletin