Why joining a trade association could be the best decision you’ll make this year, say National Craft Butchers

It’s National Butchers Week – the week where butchers join together to celebrate their craft and raise public awareness of the quality meat they prepare and sell every day.

But whilst there is much to celebrate, running a butchery business is hard. Butchers today need to keep up with changing food safety legislation, new labelling requirements, and complex employment law; all at the same time as being ever ready for that EHO visit. Inevitably, this diverts attention from the day job of profitably selling top quality meat and is why, National Craft Butchers say, all butchers need a solid trade association in their corner.

After surveying their entire membership to find out what is valued most by butchers, National Craft Butchers now have a suite of member benefits that quite simply takes a lot of the hard work out of being a butcher.

Current full member benefits include:

Primary Authority Assured Advice – this government backed scheme covering food safety and hygiene regulation brings peace of mind and can help protect members from an EHO challenge. It has recently been expanded to cover Trading Standards, Game and Charcuterie.

24/7 employment advice and contract templates

Marketing support, including branded Point of Sale and social media banners

Food Safety telephone advice provided by qualified EHOs

6 issues of Craft Butcher magazine per year

Eligibility to enter NCB Product Awards

Discounts and special offers from NCB preferred partners

National Craft Butchers also represent members’ interests at government level, recently having success as part of a lobbying group for local abattoirs, which resulted in government announcing a £4m Small Abattoir Fund in January.

National Butchers Week membership offer

In honour of National Butchers Week new full members joining before 31st March receive a free printed copy the complete NCB Food Safety Management System Manual free of charge, along with a set of four BBQ posters.*

Still undecided? Here’s what just a few of our members have to say,

‘Basically all the things we hate dealing with as butchers are looked after by National Craft Butchers. Being a member means we can concentrate on the business of selling meat.’ 

John Mettrick, JW Mettrick & Son

 ‘It was suggested to us by a current member that we should seriously consider joining NCB as the benefits and support that is on offer are outstanding and great value.

Since joining NCB we have seen great benefits to the business, and have been supported with HR issues, technical and legislative queries.

NCB offer tremendous support for all sizes of businesses and has a great undertesting of our industry.’

Ian Cundell, British Premium Sausage Company

‘I’m proud to be part of National Craft Butchers not just because they help me run my own business better, but because I know my membership is helping them to support the whole industry.’ 

David Gigli, NCB President

To join, or find out more about the membership packages available call Sarah Davison on 01892 541412 or visit www.nationalcraftbutchers.co.uk   

*Terms and conditions do apply, contact NCB for more information.