National business award for local butcher proves that Only Fools Eat Horses

A start-up business that was set-up on the back of the horse meat scandal has scooped a national award coveted by the supermarkets, to prove that when it comes to meat and livestock the North East really is ‘top of the chops’

The Great British Meat Company has been named as best website business at the Meat Management Awards. Held at the New Connaught Rooms, London the award was presented to the company by England World Cup winning legend Sir Geoff Hurst.

The high-growth Gateshead based online butcher was set-up in 2013 to provide fully traceable assured British meat direct to customers who want the quality of a proper butcher and the convenience of online delivery.

Feeding on public perception of supermarket meat following last years horse meat saga the business is growing at a rate of 30% month on month, and was recognised winning the award for it’s outstanding customer service and dedication to quality dry-aged British meat.

It is a coup for the business which was founded by Freeman Catering Butchers in partnership with their long-term friend and marketing expert Sam Wass.

The company sources the majority of it’s meat from farms and abattoirs in the North East and they are extremely proud of the regions fine farming heritage.

Daniel Freeman, co-founder said: “We’re fortunate to be surrounded by some of the best farm lands in Britain if not the world”. “As one Northumberland farmer mentioned to me recently, it is the natural nutrients from the limestone landscape that give the meat a natural flavour, that no where else can match.

“To have supply like that on our doorstep gives us a huge advantage over our competitors, who tend to be marketing companies, that know how to sell, but don’t know a great deal about meat.”

The Meat Management Awards are one the most prestigious awards in the food calendar, with supermarkets such as ASDA and Waitrose featuring their award wins extensively in TV advertising campaigns.

Speaking about the award, Daniel Freeman, said: “We are delighted to have been recognised as Best Meat Website Business. We have worked really hard to create a website and a business that put customers first, and this award justifies our belief that customers want to support British farms and buy British meat.”

“The irony of winning an award that is associated so extensively with large supermarket brands isn’t lost on us, but ultimately it is very flattering. While we won’t be able to compete with them on a TV ad campaign, we are very confident we can compete where our customers want it most, providing great meat at affordable prices.”