'Their success and longevity are born from the respect they show to animals'
Dockside butcher Edge & Son is officially the top of the shops - and the chops - after scooping THREE major awards in a national food retail "Oscars".
The company, headed by husband and wife do Callum and Debbie Edge, was not only crowned 'Butcher Shop of the Year' but 'Overall National Retailer of the Year' at the Farm Shop and Deli Awards 2018.
The nationwide competition, backed by the esteemed Grocer magazine, also named Edge's the 'best food retailer in the North West' at a gala ceremony in Birmingham.
With locations within Liverpool’s award-winning Delifonseca Dockside at Brunswick Quay and its original site in New Ferry, where it has its own abattoir, Edge & Son serves up a range of cuts and products from locally reared and slaughtered beef, pork, lamb, mutton and poultry.
A panel of industry-experts had nothing but praise for the firm's environmental ethos and its attention to animal welfare and said other butchers had a lot to learn from them.
Co-chair of judges, Elaine Lemm, said: “In a time of decline of butchers around the UK, Edge & Sons, a 5th generation butchers founded in 1844 bucks that trend. The original shop in New Ferry in Wirral is in an area of economic decline, yet this family-run traditional butchers shop still thrives and they now have a second, hugely successful outlet in the award-winning Delifonseca on Dockside in Liverpool.
"Their success and longevity are born from the respect they show to animals, the land, farmers and their customers. They buy only free-range, local rare or traditionally bred stock sourced from farms within 25 miles of the shop, with beef and lamb slaughtered on the premises at New Ferry. Their regard for the environment means they have ditched the use of plastic, preferring to wrap the meat in paper, and polystyrene trays replaced with bamboo. Neither does their caring ethos stop at the meat counter; they work closely with local schools helping pupils to connect with food.
She added: "Edge and Son eschew all that has gone awry with the meat supply industry putting honesty and respect for the animals and their customers at the forefront making them a beacon of light we can only hope others will follow.
“A lot of butchers could learn a thing or two from Edge & Son."
Fifth Generation Butcher and Proprietor Callum said: “Edge Butchers started trading in New Ferry in 1844 and over the intervening 174 years we have seen huge changes in farming and butchery practices – not all for the better.
“It’s incredibly rewarding to be recognised by an industry body such as the Farm Shop & Deli Awards for our work, not only in our individual category but as both Regional and Overall winners, which will certainly be remembered as a huge highlight in our business’ history. It’s especially gratifying to receive feedback from such esteemed and knowledgeable judges who really ‘get’ who we are and value our business ethics.”
BBC Radio 4 named Edge & Son its food retailer of the year in 2014.
