A LOCAL butcher has been able to step up production of his range of best selling sausages thanks to a council grant.
Pete the Meat in Astwood Bank has been magnetic for discerning shoppers ever since he opened for business in 1976.
However the business has stepped up a gear now thanks to the purchase of a new sausage machine.
“A customer told us there were grants available for new equipment – I had no idea – and we took it from there,” said Pete.
“We had to jump through a couple of hoops to get the money – we paid for the machine and then could claim about half back – but it was definitely worth it.”
The machine has transformed production, working ten times faster than their old hand worked operation and capable of running off 100lb of sausages in an hour.
It’s given the business, which employs four butchers, the opportunity to put its own brand of home made sausage into mass production.
“We’ve got quite a range now, including low fat, ultra lean sausages, some with chilli in, onion and ginger, wild mushroon and what we call ‘pork gold’,” said Pete.
“We are absolutely chuffed to bits with the machine.”
Councillor Bill Hartnett, Leader of Redditch Borough Council said: “Redditch is well-known for its innovative trades and this is a tasty example of creative entrepreneurship which seems to be going with a bang-er!”
For more information about grant funding and business development opportunities, contact NWedR, a shared service for Bromsgrove, Redditch and Wyre Forest local authorities on 0845 601 5953 or visit www.nwedr.org.uk
