After over 25 years in the butchery trade, winning 200 food awards and teaching meat counter staff at Tescos across the country, Douglas Ewen is opening his first butchers stall in Blackburn.
Douglas, 43, has won countless awards including the Diamond award and Platinum award through the Q Guild – which represents the finest quality independent meat retailers in Britain.
His new stall in Blackburn’s new market, which he will be running with his partner, is his first in England after having worked near Aberdeen in Scotland for 25 years.
Douglas’ meats are prepared in a European style of butchery which provides different products and cuts to those used in British butchery.
He explains that: “In Belgium and Germany and other countries across Europe they aim for the meat to be cooked in less than 20 minutes because that’s the length of time it takes for the vegetables to cook on average.
“They try to make everything as easy as possible for the consumer. My products will tie in with that ethic.”
He will also be making his own sausages, a skill that he has won many awards for. Douglas’ stall will also provide gluten free products and can tailor his products to the needs of his customers.
Douglas said: “I’m really excited about the future and I’m looking forward to getting started.
“I’m going to be using local suppliers with an emphasis on using only British products. It’s important to support your British markets and local farmers.”
As well as providing high quality produce to Blackburn market customers, Douglas has spoken with the Job Centre and has hopes to take on apprentices in the future.
He added: “I have a lot of skills that that most other people don’t have. I want to be able to pass those on.”
