‘Is a Butcher For Life, or Just for Christmas?’

Willaston Butchers have got people nodding along on Facebook after sharing a heartfelt post about the realities of life behind the counter, and why local butchers need support all year round, not just in December.

The team stressed the post wasn’t specifically about their own shop, but something they felt summed up the industry perfectly. And honestly, once you read it, it’s hard to argue.

From silly o’clock starts to perfectly stocked cabinets, the post lifts the lid on the sheer amount of work that goes into even the simplest products.

A humble burger, for example, involves sourcing beef from a farmer, collecting it from the abattoir, skilled de-boning, mincing, seasoning, shaping and careful storage, and that’s just one item out of hundreds.

It also reflects on how butchers have had to roll with the punches over the years.

BSE, foot-and-mouth, the horsemeat scandal, Covid and even last-minute bird flu surcharges before Christmas, all not of their making, but all ones that local butchers adapted to so customers didn’t go without.

There’s a gentle but pointed dig at supermarkets too, questioning whether cheaper, convenient meat is really the best long-term answer for quality, communities and local jobs.

The post ends with a familiar message many Manx shoppers will recognise. The queues at Christmas are brilliant, but imagine the impact if that support continued all year round. More jobs, more stability and more money staying in local communities.

The message is simple: shop local, shop small, and don’t leave it until December.

Use it or lose it.