Business

Whittlesey butcher makes appeal for customers on social media

Published

6 hours ago

September 12, 2025

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Whittlesey butcher makes appeal for customers on social media

John Devine/BBC Mark Field is smiling at the camera behind the counter of his shop. He has a bald head and a beard, and is wearing a red and white striped apron and a black jumper under that. Behind him are price signs for his shop and a till. — Mark Field said the cost of living had impacted his sales

A shop that has housed butchery businesses for more than 100 years could face the chop unless more people use it.

Jones Butchers has stood on Broad Street in Whittlesey, near Peterborough, since 1957 and before it, two other butchers dating back to the early 1900s have been there.

Mark Field, a butcher with 30 years’ experience, took over the business in June but has appealed for more customers on social media, putting his struggles down to the cost of living and the convenience of supermarkets.

Trade association National Craft Butchers (NCB) said beef prices were at an historic high, with the cost of meat generally rising 17%, which had made it tough for independent butchers.

Mr Field said working for other people was a lot easier with less worry, but he had always wanted to run his own shop

Mark Field Mark Field stands outside his butchers' shop. He is wearing a grey flat cap and a black T-shirt and dark trousers. There is a brown wooden door on the left and two large windows in the centre and to the right. A blue sign above the shop says "Butchers", "J.Jones of Whittlesey" and "Deli". — Mr Field said working for other people was a lot easier with less worry, but he had always wanted to run his own shop

After always working for other people in the butchery industry, Mr Field, 47, thought he would try and go it alone and run his own shop after an opportunity arose.

“I am not regretting taking it on because I have a love for the job and I’ve always wanted to do this,” he said.

But despite a summer perfect for barbecues, Mr Field said he had already been forced to cut down on staffing hours and upped his own shift patterns, working 60 hours a week.

There have been various butchery businesses at the same premises in Whittlesey for more than 100 years

GRAHAM JONES A black and white photo of a butchers' shop in the same location as it is now. A man in a striped apron is holding a large cow outside the premises. Another man is visible, again with a striped apron in front of the shop window, and a man and a woman can be seen in the shop doorway. Meat is hanging up from hooks in the shop window. — There have been various butchery businesses at the same premises in Whittlesey for more than 100 years

“Things have picked up a bit since I made the plea for more customers on Facebook last week, so I will keep my fingers crossed”, he said.

But he added: “The cost of meat has been rising across the board, and I think younger people can sometimes feel intimidated by coming in to a shop where they have to ask for something. They prefer picking up meat in packs from a supermarket.”

Adrian Cornwell said he had diversified to sell meats not usually found in supermarkets, like mutton, goat and even squirrel

BENT AND CORNWELL Adrian Cornwell has short grey hair and a stubbly chin. He is wearing dark framed glasses and a white shirt, with the straps of a blue apron visible around his neck. He is in a butchers' shop with yellow price tags hanging behind him. — Adrian Cornwell said he had diversified to sell meats not usually found in supermarkets, like mutton, goat and even squirrel

Adrian Cornwell, who runs Bent and Cornwell in Ely, noticed that business had also been quieter this year.

“We can’t compete with supermarkets on prices, but what we can do is share our vast knowledge with our customers on how best to prepare various cuts of meat,” he said.

Mr Cornwell added that he had tried to replicate how the supermarkets displayed their meat, because “that’s what the shopper expects”.

He agreed with Mr Field that the younger generation seemed to forgo visiting butchers’ shops, preferring the convenience of the supermarket.

Beef prices have increased to historic highs of £7 per kg due to constrained supply and continued consumer demand, said NCB.

According to the British Retail Consortium, food prices rose by 4% in July from a year earlier.

Meat prices have also increased by 17% up to June this year.

John Mettrick said people would travel miles to buy a quality sausage, bacon or pies – “it’s what you hang your hat on if you’re a butcher”

John Mettrick John Mettrick has a black flat cap and a blue and white striped butchers' apron on. He is wearing glasses and some grey hair is visible on the side of his head, under his cap. Behind him is a butchers' shop, with meats in cabinets and vacuum-packed goods in a basket on the counter. — John Mettrick said people would travel miles to buy a quality sausage, bacon or pies – “it’s what you hang your hat on if you’re a butcher”

John Mettrick, legislation director at NCB and a fifth generation butcher, said it was “tough for all businesses on the High Street, not just butchers”.

He said his own shop had managed to entice younger customers by selling “kitchen-ready” meals.

“I do a thing called ‘fake-a-ways’, stir fries, Indian dishes, all prepared ready for the oven, it saves so much time,” he said.

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Business

Stock Market Ends Week On Positive Note, Clock 8 Consecutive Session Gains Despite Uncertainties

Published

22 minutes ago

September 12, 2025

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Stock Market Ends Week On Positive Note, Clock 8 Consecutive Session Gains Despite Uncertainties

Mumbai: The Indian equity indices ended the week on a positive note on Friday, maintaining the winning streak for the eight consecutive trading sessions despite geo-political uncertainties.

Optimism over a potential rate cut by the US Fed, positive developments in India-US trade talks and buying in defence stocks fueled the market sentiment.

Sensex settled the session at 81,904.70, up 355.97 points or 0.44 per cent. The 30-share index started trading with a decent gap-up at 81,758.95 against last day’s closing of 81,548.73. The index extended the momentum further amid positive global cues to hit an intraday high at 81,992.85.

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(Also Read: 8th Pay Commission 14-Point Update)

Nifty closed at 25,114.0, up 108.50 points or 0.43 per cent.

The national market closed at a three-week high, supported by renewed global optimism over a potential Fed rate cut. Sentiments improved further on reports that the EU may reject U.S. tariff proposals on India for buying Russian oil, analysts said.

(Also Read: GST Rules On Old Unsold Packs Of Products)

Progress in the US-India trade talks is also expected to keep the positive momentum intact in the near term. The defence sector outperformed, aided by the Indian procurement authorities beginning negotiations for six next-generation conventional submarines, analysts added.

BEL, Bajaj Finance, Bajaj FinServ, Axis Bank, Maruti, Tata Motors, ICICI Bank, L&T, Infosys, and PowerGrid were the top gainers from the Sensex basket. Eternal, Hindustan Unilever, Trent, Asian Paint, Bharati Airtel and ITC settled lower.

The majority of sectoral indices settled higher. Nifty Fin Services jumped 184 points or 0.70 per cent, Nifty Bank escalated 139 points or 0.26 per cent, Nifty Auto increased 122 points or 0.46 per cent, and Nifty IT settled the session 107 points or 0.3 per cent. Nifty FMCG fell.

Broader indices followed suit as well. Nifty Smallcap 100 moved 114 points or 0.64 per cent, Nifty Midcap 100 jumped 183 points or 0.32 per cent, and Nifty 100 closed 106 points or 0.41 per cent.

Rupee traded positively with gains of 0.18 per cent at 88.27 as mixed FII inflows supported sentiment.

“The dollar index remained weak below 98, providing additional strength to the rupee, while ongoing trade deal talks with the US also added optimism. Weakness in crude prices offered further minor support,” said Jateen Trivedi f LKP Securities.

Overall, the rupee looks set to gain some lost ground with scope to test 87.75 in the coming days, while 88.50 is seen as a reversal resistance zone, he added.

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Business

UK economy flatlined in July after sharp contraction in manufacturing

Published

2 hours ago

September 12, 2025

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UK economy flatlined in July after sharp contraction in manufacturing

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The UK economy flatlined in July as the biggest contraction for a year in the manufacturing sector offset a bumper month on the high street.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said there was zero growth in gross domestic product (GDP) month on month in July, against 0.4 per cent growth in June.

It came after the manufacturing sector saw activity pull back by 1.3 per cent – the biggest contraction since July 2024. This held back growth in the wider economy, with the services sector up 0.1 per cent thanks to an expansion of 0.6 per cent in retail and construction growing by 0.2 per cent.

Liz McKeown, director of economic statistics at the ONS, said: “Growth in the economy as a whole continued to slow over the last three months. While services growth held up, production fell back further.

“Within services, health, computer programming and office support services all performed well, while the falls in production were driven by broad-based weakness across manufacturing industries.

“In the latest month, GDP showed no growth, with increases in services and construction offset by falls in production. Falls in production were driven by broad-based weakness across manufacturing industries.”

The manufacturing sector has seen its biggest contraction since July 2024 (PA)

Services output grew 0.4 per cent and construction by 0.6 per cent across the three months to July, contributing to an overall rise of 0.2 per cent for the economy across the summer period.

However, that means a third consecutive slowdown period as, in one expert’s words, the economy “grinds to a halt”. Lindsay James, investment strategist at Quilter, pointed out that even the areas that showed growth in the last three months are slowing – a direct consequence of the government raising costs for employers.

“After a positive first half of the year, UK economic growth is slowly grinding to a halt once again,” said Ms James.

“GDP failed to grow month-on-month in July, and slowed to just 0.2 per cent on a three-monthly basis. This increase was driven primarily by the services and construction sectors, but production output fell. However, growth is slowing in these sectors and is likely the result of actions taken by the Labour government now being realised, with the increase in employer national insurance contributions having a significant impact on business confidence.

“With the summer now over and the economy supposedly getting out of its slumber, we now face continuing uncertainty in the lead-up to the budget in November given the precarious position the chancellor finds the public finances in. It is estimated that the fiscal hole that needs to be plugged is anywhere between £20bn and £50bn. While that is a wide range, it means one thing for a government that has shown it will struggle to cut spending – more tax rises.”

Rachel Reeves is set to deliver her Budget on 26 November (PA)

On the latest figures, a Treasury spokesperson said: “We know there’s more to do to boost growth, because while our economy isn’t broken, it does feel stuck.

“That’s the result of years of underinvestment, which we’re determined to reverse through our Plan for Change. We’re making progress: growth this year was the fastest in the G7; since the election, interest rates have been cut five times, and real wages have risen faster than they did under the last government.

“There’s more to do to build an economy that works for, and rewards, working people. That’s why we are cutting unnecessary red tape, transforming the planning system to get Britain building, and investing billions of pounds into affordable homes, Sizewell C, and local transport across the country.”

In response, Sir Mel Stride MP, shadow chancellor of the Exchequer, said: “Any economic growth is welcome – but this government is distracted from the problems the country is facing.

“While the government lurches from one scandal to another, borrowing costs recently hit a 27-year high – a damning vote of no confidence in Labour that makes painful tax rises all but certain.

“It is little wonder that Starmer has stripped Reeves of control over the Budget. But sidelining her is not enough – he must also reject her failed economic approach that has left Britain poorer.”

Rachel Reeves is scheduled to deliver the Budget on 26 November.

Economists have warned that the government cannot ‘tax its way to growth’ (House of Commons)

Ben Jones, lead economist at the CBI, added: “The sunshine may have lifted consumers in July, but the broader economy stayed stuck in the shade. Growth was uneven across sectors, highlighting that underlying demand remains more fragile. Speculation about new business taxes is casting a long shadow. Amid rising cost pressures, firms are already holding back on hiring and investment and are wary of weeks’ more Budget uncertainty.

“The government cannot tax its way to growth and continue to raid corporate coffers. With the Autumn Budget fast approaching, the chancellor must deliver a decisive, pro-growth package by committing to serious tax reform. It’s the structure of our system – from punitive business rates to the restrictive VAT threshold and stamp duty – that holds back economic progress, not just the rates themselves.”

Additional reporting by PA

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