Herefordshire butchers upbeat despite industry-wide shortages

There has been much speculation that meat shortages could be effected by a labour shortage bought on by Brexit, as well as a lack of carbon dioxide.

This has led to concern that there may even be a shortage of turkeys at Christmas.

Butchers across Herefordshire have spoken about whether these shortages have impacted them at all.

Anthony Legge, of Legges in Bromyard’s Tenbury Road, as well as at the bottom of Aylestone Hill in Hereford, said he didn’t expect to be affected by the shortages.

"As we source everything locally, mainly from Herefordshire, we're happy to say it has not affected us at all,” he said.

"We've been banging the local drum for years, and it's not let us down."

Labour shortages and carbon dioxide shortages have concerned meat suppliers. Picture: Norrie Russell.

A shortage of carbon dioxide, which is used to stun pigs and chickens before slaughter, as well as during the packaging process of meat to prolong shelf life, has caused concern among some meat suppliers.

Chris Ogleby, of Ogleby Butchers, St. Owen's Street, Hereford, said the carbon dioxide shortage was not a concern to local butchers.

He said: "Most of our stuff comes from local farms, so we don't have to deal with carbon dioxide packaging.

"That's more likely to effect supermarkets with long supply chains, for local butchers, it's not as much of an issue."

Similarly, the shortage in HGV drivers and petrol supplies is thought not be a threat to Herefordshire's butchers.

Ben Powell, of Hereford's Neil Powell Master Butchers, said: "This is the good thing about local supply chains. Our produce comes from farms in Herefordshire, so there's less distance for the meat to travel."

There are national fears there could be a shortage of turkeys at Christmas

There is also little concern that there will be problems in the coming months.

Mr Powell said he was confident they would be able to supply their customers with turkeys over the Christmas period.

Anthony Newton, of R. Bright Butchers, on Leominster High Street, said: "Anything is possible, but I think we should be okay. All our turkeys are already ordered for Christmas.

"The only thing that could cause a problem is if there are any staff shortages. But I don't see that happening."

The positivity in Herefordshire is not matched across the country.

Nick Allen, chief executive of the British Meat Processors Association, said: “I suspect that food can be imported and probably the turkeys might not be British turkeys but they may end up being French, or even turkeys from further afield.

“We’re not saying there’s going to be desperate shortages, but there certainly won’t be the choices available for British food, that’s for certain.”