Friday October 28, 2016
Local business butchered by supermarket giant By Elise Christian A Gillingham butcher explained his struggle to keep his business alive amid rising meat sales in supermarket chains. Bruce’s Butchers located off Gillingham High Street is a 33-year-old family run business. The 525th Asda store in the UK opened in Gillingham last year, posing the largest threat to Bruce’s Butchers yet. Store owner, Alan Bruce, 50, said that with Christmas looming he worried that Asda will put him out of business. Like Bruce’s Butchers, Asda pride themselves on local sourcing. An Asda spokesperson said: “We are making it as cheap, easy and risk-free as possible for small suppliers to do business with us.” This puts them in direct competition with Mr Bruce who also prides his business on locally sourced produce. Mr Bruce is also worried about the effects of Brexit. He said: “Brexit will have an effect - our prices are already going up and down. Pork has already gone up by 20p in the last 10 days.” Despite Mr Bruce’s plight over business losses he remains positive, as he has a host of loyal customers that his business can depend on. He said: “We personalise their Christmas in a way that larger supermarkets just don’t”. Mr Bruce worries that if his business struggles too much, he may never be able to retire. He said, “I don’t want to be working when I’m 75 like dad”. Bruce’s Butchers faces a tense few months ahead.