AFTER serving her apprenticeship in butchery and farm management, Lauren Boarer bought her own butchers... and she has no regrets about taking the plunge.

Ms Boarer and her partner invested their savings in Small Farms Butchers in Hay-on-Wye when the opportunity to buy the shop came up last year.

Working alongside shop manager Becky Hughes has been a joy for Ms Boarer, who moved to Hereford in October 2020 after a decade of experience in the agricultural industry.

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Ms Boarer and Small Farms Butchers are in the running for the Best Butcher Award at this year’s Three Counties Food and Farming Awards, in partnership with the Royal Three Counties Show.

“I moved to Hereford from Surrey in October 2020 and started working at Small Farms Butchers as a butcher, then the opportunity to buy the business came up,” she said.

“After investing our savings, because I believed I could bring success back to the shop, we have gone from strength to strength.

“Me and Becky provide our loyal customers with fantastic organic local produce.

“We believe in sourcing as locally as possible and reducing our carbon footprint by doing small swaps from plastic to recyclable packaging.

“As a small business, my proudest achievement is when I recommend certain meats to customers and they come back to tell me how delicious their produce was – that’s a very proud moment for us as a team.

“After coronavirus it has been more important than ever to spend quality time with family, and as a butcher being able to provide quality meat for special family meals makes me extremely proud.”

She added: “We are constantly training and developing within our shop so both Becky and I are up to date with the newest legislation.

"We continue to strive for new achievements and, as a small business, we continue to improve on a daily basis.”

Ms Hughes has a long family history with the premises in Broad Street as it was previously her grandfather’s butchers shop.

Entries are now open for the Three Counties Food and Farming Awards 2022, which take place on June 15.

How to nominate an individual, team or business

Visit herefordtimes.com/awards/foodandfarming and complete the online form to make a nomination.

Award categories are:

  • Cattle Farmer
  • Poultry Farmer
  • Arable/Fruit or Hop Farmer
  • Family-run Farm or Smallholding
  • Farm Conservation and Diversification
  • Best Farm Shop
  • Best Dairy Producer
  • Best Food Producer (exc. dairy)
  • Best Drinks Producer
  • Best Butcher
  • Best Bakery
  • Chef of the Year