History
Titanics is a Kosher butchers and delicatessen with distinctive past. The first shop was opened almost 100 years ago by Joseph Abraham Hyman, a survivor of the sinking of the Titanic. Hyman was among the hundreds of lucky survivors (over 700 survived but more than 1600 died) rescued by the SS Carpathia and taken to New York.
It was his experience of New York led to the opening of the first of the three Titanics stores in Greater Manchester. Today Titanics is a fourth-generation business with Hyman’s great-grandson Richard Hyman at the helm.
The Titanics story
What do they sell?
Everything in the store is Kosher and much is made by Richard and his team in-store from sausages to pastries. Richard is especially proud of their store-smoked salmon which is made according to a recipe handed down by his great-grandfather.
Brimming with pride Richard said: “I know I’m biased but it really is the best smoked salmon in Manchester without a doubt. We only use Scottish salmon which we lightly oak-smoke and lightly salt so you get all of the flavours through without one taste masking another. It’s a skill each generation has been taught as you can’t have a set recipe because each salmon is different. It’s all about touch and sight and it’s a skill that is in the blood.” To mark the store’s centenary Richard and his team have recently begun making an extra-special steak and ale pie, made with award-winning Titanic ale sourced from Stafford. Stuffed full of flavour, the pie has been going down a treat in the three weeks since its debut on the deli counter.
Blackboard specials
Why shop there?
The Titanic stores form the heart of the communities they serve and this is reflected in the service they provide, explained Richard: “People really appreciate the fact that we get to know them well. If you go into another supermarket you’re just one of another number whereas here we will get to know you, ask about family and we’ll make sure you are comfortable and well looked after. The fact that customers come in knowing that it’s ok to have a chat makes it a more pleasurable shopping experience and a lot of our customers have been coming in since they were knee-high. Their grandmothers shopped with my grandfather for instance.”
Richard has also added an element of charm by including the street signs torn down in redevelopments of the area. If you go though, remember this is a family run shop and not quite so super-slick as the supermarket big boys.
Traditional Sweets
What does the future hold for Titanics?
There’s no doubt that Richard works in a dog-eat-dog world and he is under no illusions as to what he has to do to keep ahead of the pack: “We’re always adapting because we are in a competitive business and we have to keep coming up with things others don’t do. I’m always making my own mixes, spices and marinades so if the big companies want the recipes they’ll have to come to me.” Richard has recently launched a new website and through this he is able to ship products all across the UK with online business now accounting for 15-20 per cent of all sales. For more information visit: www.titanics.co.uk
Contact Details:
J.A.Hyman (Titanics) Ltd
123-129 Waterloo Road
Cheetham
Manchester
M8 8BT 0161 792 1888
Titanics Altrincham
51-53 Borough Rd
Altrincham
Cheshire
WA15 9RA 0161 929 0057
Hymans Cheadle
39-41 Wilmslow Rd
Cheadle
Cheshire
SK8 1DR
0161 491-1100 or 0161 428 3400
Richard Hyman mixing in his shop
Titanics
