So, let me paint a picture.
I was recently standing in the shop when a gentleman came in. After spending quite a bit of time looking at the products and prices, he moved to the end of the display cabinet and politely beckoned me over.
Now, I have to admit, my inner voice shouted, “Here we go…”
I wasn’t disappointed.
His first words were:
“You’re expensive. I can get it cheaper in the supermarket.”
Then, very politely, he asked me to explain why and what the difference was.
Now, I need to apologise to the customers who were in the shop at the time because my initial reaction was to say, rather loudly:
“Because they sell sh#t!”
Which, to be fair, isn’t exactly fair to supermarkets!
So I put my grown-up teacher head on and had a lengthy conversation with the gentleman instead.
And this is pretty much what I told him.
I also apologise if I’m treading on old ground here, but this is a question that seems to be coming up more and more.
“Why is meat from a farm shop more expensive than the supermarket?”
And, to be perfectly honest, it’s a fair question.
We all have household bills to pay, families to feed and budgets to stick to. With the cost of living still something we’re all conscious of, it’s only natural to look at two packs of beef, pork or chicken and wonder why one costs more than the other.
But there’s something important to remember.
You’re not always comparing like for like.
Behind a piece of meat on a supermarket shelf and a piece of meat from your local butcher can be two very different stories.
It Starts With Where the Animal Comes From
At The Farmers Butcher, we work hard to source our meat from farmers and producers we know and trust.
Our beef, for example, comes from small farms across Hampshire, Wiltshire and Dorset, while our New Forest pork comes from local producers such as Storms Farm.
We know where our meat has come from and, in many cases, we know the people who have reared it.
That relationship matters.
Buying locally helps keep money within the local farming community and supports the farmers who are working hard to produce the food that eventually finds its way onto your plate.
A supermarket, quite understandably, operates on a very different scale. It buys enormous volumes of meat and produce, often through large supply chains designed around efficiency, consistency and price.
That scale can make products cheaper.
But cheaper doesn’t necessarily mean better.
So Why Does Farm Shop Meat Cost More?
There are quite a few reasons.
Firstly, we’re buying on a much smaller scale.
A supermarket may be buying hundreds or thousands of animals, or huge quantities of meat at a time. A small independent butcher simply doesn’t have that buying power.
We can’t compete with supermarket purchasing volumes — and we don’t want to.
Our aim is to source good-quality meat from good farmers and producers.
And that comes at a cost.
There’s Also a Lot More Work Involved
When you walk into a supermarket and pick up a sealed tray of meat, much of the preparation has already been standardised and carried out on a huge production line.
At a traditional butcher’s, there’s considerably more hands-on work.
A whole piece of meat comes through the door and our job is to turn it into the cuts our customers actually want.
That means trimming, cutting, portioning and tying joints, as well as making sausages, burgers, pies, marinades and all the other things we produce in the shop.
And, importantly, we can cut it specifically for you.
Want a thicker steak?
No problem.
A joint big enough for Sunday lunch?
We’ll sort it.
Need something trimmed differently or prepared for a particular recipe?
Just ask.
That’s one of the big differences between buying meat from a butcher and buying a pre-packed product.
Quality Matters Too
We’re not saying that everything in a supermarket is poor quality.
There are good products available in supermarkets.
But the way we select and handle our meat gives us the opportunity to concentrate on quality rather than simply price.
We can choose the farmers and suppliers we want to work with, select the cuts we think our customers will enjoy and spend the time preparing them properly.
And with beef in particular, ageing can make a huge difference.
Good beef benefits from time. It allows the meat to develop flavour and improves tenderness.
It’s not about making the biggest pile of meat for the smallest price.
It’s about producing meat that is worth putting on your plate.
And Then There’s the Service
This is probably one of the biggest differences of all.
When you come into a traditional butcher, you’re not just buying a packet of meat.
“What cut would you recommend for slow cooking?”
“How much do I need for six people?”
“What’s the best way to cook this?”
“I’ve got the family coming round on Sunday — what would you suggest?”
These are questions we’re happy to answer.
Sometimes customers come in knowing exactly what they want.
Sometimes they don’t.
And that’s where a good butcher can make a difference.
We’re able to talk about the meat, where it has come from, how it has been prepared and, most importantly, how to get the best from it at home.
You’re Also Buying the Local Connection
When you spend money with a local farm shop, you’re helping support a whole chain of local businesses.
The farmer. The butcher. The local producer. The baker. The cheesemaker. The person growing the vegetables. The person making the chutney.
And the people employed by all of those businesses.
It’s a much smaller and more personal food chain.
You can often trace the journey of the food on your plate back to the person who produced it.
And we think that’s something worth protecting.
But Isn’t Supermarket Meat Sometimes Cheaper?
Absolutely.
And there will always be times when a supermarket will be cheaper than us.
We can’t — and don’t intend to — compete with supermarket prices across the board.
Their business model is built around enormous volumes and very competitive pricing.
Ours is built around quality, provenance, craftsmanship and service.
It’s a bit like comparing a mass-produced loaf of bread with one made by a small artisan bakery.
They’re both bread.
But they’re not necessarily the same experience.
So What Are You Actually Paying For?
When you buy from your local butcher or farm shop, you’re paying for more than the meat itself.
You’re paying for:
Quality and provenance.
Knowing where your food has come from and choosing producers we trust.
Skilled preparation.
Someone taking the time to cut, trim and prepare your meat properly.
Choice.
Being able to buy the cut you actually want rather than simply choosing from what’s in a packet.
Knowledge.
Advice on cuts, cooking and quantities.
Freshness.
Buying from a counter where the product is prepared and served by people who know it.
Local farming.
Supporting the farmers who produce our food.
Local employment.
Helping keep independent businesses working within our communities.
And perhaps most importantly…
You’re helping keep traditional butchery alive.
It’s Not About Being Better Than the Supermarket
We don’t believe supermarkets are the enemy.
We use them ourselves from time to time!
They’re convenient, they’re everywhere and they have their place.
But we also believe there should still be a place for the traditional farm shop and butcher.
A place where you can walk through the door, have a chat, ask a question, buy something you’ve never tried before and know that the person serving you actually cares about the food they’re selling.
So next time you see a difference in price between a supermarket and your local butcher, perhaps don’t just ask:
“Why is that one more expensive?”
Ask:
“What am I getting for the difference?”
Because sometimes you’re not simply paying more for meat.
You’re paying for where it came from, how it was produced, how it was prepared, the people behind it and the service that comes with it.
And for us, that’s what being a farm shop butcher is all about.
Good food. Good farmers. Good people. And knowing where your food comes from.
And, of course, we also have a Tom.
Someone who will talk to you for hours. Someone who will ask how you are and actually want to hear the answer. Someone who wants to be of help to you and someone who truly cares about your experience within our little shop.
That’s got to be worth more than gold.
And we give him to you for free.
See you in the shop,
Mike
