Award-winning butcher blames Covid for collapse with 34 people losing their jobs

All 34 employees of a decades-old family-run butcher have been made redundant after it fell into administration, marking the end of 30 years in business. Price and Fretwell, an award-winning butcher based in Tibshelf, appointed liquidators on December 30.

The butcher supplied meat including lamb, chicken and aged beef to a range of restaurants, hotels, wedding venues and regional colleges. As reported by The Business Desk, the administrators said that the company had ceased trading "partially due to the knock-on effects of COVID-19."

The business was originally based in nearby Blackwell before moving to Tibshelf. It expanded over the years, operating eight delivery vans across the East Midlands and South Yorkshire.

The latest company accounts, which were recorded up to September of 2023, state that the business owed creditors up to £1.2 million. The company appointed liquidators from Opus Restructuring on December 30.

The business won several award including being named catering Butcher of the Year at the Great Food Awards in 2020 and two years later being named as a finalist in the same category at the Meat Management awards.