A Staffordshire man has taken over a village’s butchers shop which closed down because of supermarket competition in the summer.
Mark Mason has taken over Smiths in Burntwood Road, Norton Canes, which shut up shop after more than 80 years, because he believes the tide is turning against the big four supermarkets.
Mr Mason has been a butcher for 24 years and worked at Dave Silverton’s in Wolverhampton.
The 42-year-old said: “I just thought it was time for me to give it a go by myself. I’ve lived in Norton Canes for four years and people have told me how much the butchers meant to them and I just thought the village was crying out for it.”
He has gone into business with his girlfriend Joanne Rowley and the shop will be known as Mason’s Butchers.
He added: “I think it’s going against supermarkets now and more people want the personal touch and to have a chat with people about what they’re buying.”
Mr Mason says his speciality is going to be homemade pork pies and sausages, flavoured with chilli, lemon, mint and the more traditional pork and leek.
But fans of Smiths’ famous beef cuts will not be disappointed.
“We’re going to use the same farmer as Smiths so I’m hoping I can carry on the brothers’ tradition of good beef,” said Mr Mason, pictured, right, with Archie Slevin.
The butchers had been open since 1924 and won awards for friendly service.
By Kate Hughes
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