We'll meat again - Double family celebration for butcher Ken as he marks 60 years at Cannock shop
Ken Wood has celebrated both his 80th birthday recently and 60 years at Butchers and Freezer Centre, Cannock - and has no plans to retire.
And not only does he still work two days a week at the shop in Festival Court, Pye Green he also works with his son Kevin who himself has completed 27 years there but also his grandson Louie, aged 24 and even his daughter-in-law who links up with the family team on a Saturday.
It's a remarkable run for Ken, who started off working in the store in 1965 aged 20, first as a manager and then taking on ownership of the store. He had already worked as a butcher for the five previous years.
Since then he has carved out a successful business which benefits from a prominent location along the main Stafford Road but also from a very loyal customer base, with some of them having been coming to the shop as long as Ken has worked there.
Ken's family recently celebrated his 80th birthday with him and visited him in the shop today to mark the anniversary but it was business as usual as far as he was concerned.
He said: "I have cut down my hours, partly because the family insisted but I have no plans to retire, I would miss the shop and the customers too much and it is nice working with two other generations of the family. It has been very much based on that since we started."
Kelly said: "It is quite remarkable really and there is a great working atmosphere in the shop it is very much part of the community and everyone likes coming in for a chat and to view what is on offer which is always top quality."
The success of the Butchers and Freezer Centre comes as many shops in the industry are facing tough times - last week the Express & Star reported on the closure of the award winning Allan Bennett butchers in Codsall.
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