UK's best butcher retains title

A butcher which recently opened a premises in Lancashire has retained its crown as the UK's best butcher for a second year.

Roast Mutton launched in Kendal in 2021 and opened in Wrightington earlier this year.

The business was named Butcher of the Year at the 2023 Farm Shop & Deli Retailer Awards and has now beaten competition from across the UK to score the 2024 title too.

The awards celebrate the best specialist independent retailers with judges recognising retailers’ achievements in the independent sector.

A team of leading experts judged the entries online before coming together last November to deliberate and shortlist the contenders. During January and February secret visits took place before the winners, and overall Retailer of the Year, were decided.

The judges praised Roast Mutton with comments including: “Attractive looking shop that appears to be growing and thriving at a difficult time. Good to see the promotion of grass-fed animals and native breeds!” and “A good call out on all meat being free range and local and nice back story. Good commendations from staff and good that an apprenticeship scheme has been implemented.”

Robert Unwin from Roast Mutton said: "We had a great day looking round the Farm Shop & Deli Show, exploring some possible new products for the shops. In the afternoon we just about managed to find a spot to stand as the Retailer Awards got underway and Nigel began announcing the shortlist for the first category.

"To my total amazement he announced that we’d won – it hasn’t actually sunk in yet to be honest. But this award means loads because it’s about the teams at Roast Mutton in Kendal and our new shop in Lancashire. The reality is we couldn’t do what we would do without them, and we want to say a huge thank you to all of them for their hard work.

"And while I’m at it I’d like to say a massive thanks to our brilliant customers who’ve supported us over the last couple of years and all of the farmers across both counties that we work with."