Sitting proudly at the end of the Central Line, on the edge of the forest, is our little town of Epping. The busy high street is one of the few places remaining with a real sense of community, and our butchers have been a part of that high street, serving our loyal customers since 1888.
Fast-forward to 2019 and the high street is as busy as ever. Just a stone's throw from our shop are some fantastic independent shops, bars, and restaurant which in this day and age we find amazing! You can enjoy a drink in The George & Dragon or The Black Lion, Lunch at Fred & Doug’s or Eden. You can even buy some original art from artisan gallery or be pampered by the various salons, barbers and beauty parlours.
1) Money Goes Back Into The Local Economy
According to research, when you buy from a small, local business, 60p out of every £1 spent goes back into the community. It goes towards paying somebodies wages and ensure the business can continue to do what they do.
Without local support, small businesses wouldn’t stand a chance against big supermarkets and chains. We greatly appreciate all the support we get ourselves and we also actively support other local businesses wherever possible. That can mean a simple recommendation for the local greengrocers to our customers or even selling local producers products in our store such as Gabriel’s Hertfordshire honey (We like to help the bee too!)
We will never get bored of seeing the market set up for trade, and the abundance of customers it brings into town. We want to keep this community feel going for years to come, so it's there for the next generation to enjoy!
2) It's Better For The Environment
Usually, buying local means a significant reduction in your carbon footprint in a multitude of ways. For starters, a small business usually uses much less packaging and plastic than you would find in a big supermarket. If you're trying to cut down on your single-use plastic, often independent retailers are the way to go.
Also, buying local produce ensures your products aren't driven across the country, or worse, imported from another country. They are significantly better for the environment if they travel less. Here at Church’s Butchers, we pride ourselves on the fact that we can trace all of our meat back to the original farm. We source everything we can locally and can tell you the origins of everything we sell. It's of the utmost importance to us that the things we sell are of the highest standards
3) We Can Be More Ethical & Ensure High Animal Welfare
It can be of concern that when you buy meat from a supermarket, you have no idea about the welfare of the animal or where it has come from. Due to us being an independent retailer, we have a close relationship will all the suppliers that we use. Over many years, we have build a supply chain or high-welfare farms that we know and trust.
For 130 years, we have been meticulous in the way we source our meat. The vast majority comes from local farms – places where we personally can ensure quality and high animal-welfare standards, so you can put your mind at ease when you shop with us.
4) You Have More Choice & Better Ingredient
Unlike supermarkets and big chains, small shops can sell a wider range of items and order things in by request. At Church's Butchers, we have a wide selection of fresh meat, deli items, sausages and freshly prepared meals. However, if you want something specific, like Beef Ribs, Pork Cheeks, Hanger Steaks, butterflied lamb legs or even a double thick cut Sirloin steaks, we can make that happen for you. Drop us a message or call us and we will do our best to get it for you.
We sell a far bigger range than a big establishment possibly could and we have the flexibility to sell any seasonal produce we like, whenever we have the opportunity. The same goes for shops up and down Epping high street. You only have to pop over the road to the green grocers to see the plethora of seasonal, and unusual produce that is available.
Buying local means you get fresher and tastier ingredient. Any meat, fruit or veg that is local will take less time to get to the consumer meaning it's going to taste better. You simply can't beat, fresh and local produce.
If you need any help or further advice on cooking your meats, don’t be afraid to ask us.
For special requests, please get in touch via our website www.churchsbutchers.co.uk or find us on social media:
Facebook- Church's Butchers of Epping
Instagram- @churchsbutchers
