Family-owned Stilton Butchers to get new lease of life as it returns to Peterborough

Owner James Morgan says he is about to reopen the butchers in a new unit in the city following two years in which it operated from premises in the Suffolk town of Newmarket.

Eight jobs are expected to be created with the opening of the new outlet.

Mr Morgan, whose family has owned the business since it was created 48 years ago, said that he intended to open new premises in Peterborough by December 1.

He said: “We will be reopening in a few weeks and we will be creating eight jobs.

"We are moving back to Peterborough and I’m hoping the premises will be in Fengate or Werrington.

"The confirmed location will be announced as soon as the necessary arrangements have been completed.

He said: “The business will remain online

"Although Stilton Butchers began life trading from a shop in the village of Stilton nearly 50 years ago, the last 20 years have seen it operating as an online business and supplier to restaurants nationally.”

Stilton Butchers was founded by Mr Morgan’s father, Peter, in 1978 and traded from High Street until its closure as trade moved more towards the hotel and catering sector.

The shop in Stilton and three others were shut and Peter and James began operating from a large unit in Fengate focusing on online and the catering market.

The business was moved to Orton Southgate in 2022 but two years later, and following the death of his father, James decided to move the business to Newmarket.

But since then the business has been beset by problems with the new Stilton Butchers Wholesale UK Ltd hit by a winding up petition on June 24 issued by Channel Meats Ltd of Smithfield, London.

Mr Morgan said: “The original business, Stilton Butchers, is currently still operating from Newmarket.

He said the move to Newmarket had triggered a number of issues and in hindsight was the wrong move.

He said: “We were defrauded, we lost control , administration went through the roof and we tried to trade through it which was the wrong decision.

“Bringing Stilton Butchers home will allow the business to recruit from a stronger local workforce, reconnect with its roots and rebuild in the area where the brand belongs.

And he promised: “Stilton Butchers will return with a better understanding of its responsibilities, improved technology, stronger customer service and systems designed for the business it has become.

"We cannot change what happened, and we cannot expect people to forget it.

"What we can do is apologise properly, complete every outstanding resolution, learn from every failure and demonstrate through our future actions that the lessons have been taken seriously.”

Mr Morgan said the difficulties for the business had been confined to a seven month period

He added: I am deeply sorry to everyone who was let down, left waiting, unable to reach us or forced to fight for a refund.”