Local butchers delivers Christmas cheer
A butchers in Solihull is spreading Christmas joy across the region through its online delivery service, with support from Lloyds Bank.
After launching its delivery service during the first national lockdown in March 2020, Eric Lyons Butchers is now performing around 70 deliveries each week, which has helped to increase its revenue by approximately 20 per cent on pre-Covid levels.
Earlier this year, the fifth-generation family business used a £150,000 finance package from Lloyds Bank to expand its premises on Knowle High Street with a new specialist packaging and distribution centre and fridge space to meet growing demand for its deliveries.
With demand continuing to escalate in the run-up to Christmas, the business has already received close to 700 online and in-store orders, including for more than 1,000 whole turkeys and turkey breasts. The butcher has also launched a host of new festive products that are proving popular with customers, including a venison pie, mince pies, and a steak and ale pie made in collaboration with local brewery Purity Brewing Co.
As part of its enhanced online service, the business has invested in developing its website and expanding its social media presence. Shoppers can watch video tutorials demonstrating the best way to prepare and cook each product, including a masterclass with owner Nick Lyons on how to cook the perfect turkey.
Looking towards the new year the butchers, which can trace its history back to the 1800s, is planning to grow its online presence even further and has ambitions to roll out its delivery service nationwide.
The firm has grown its team from nine to 16 employees since launching its online delivery service and is hoping to take on even more staff as it continues to expand.
Nick Lyons, director and owner at Eric Lyons Butchers, said: “Our online delivery service began as a way to safeguard our staff and continue to serve our customers during the pandemic, but it has really taken off and shows no sign of slowing. It 's helping us to take more orders than ever this Christmas and we 're expecting to see even more orders come in over the next couple of weeks.
“We have big plans to grow even further by rolling out our delivery service across the UK next year. The Lloyds Bank team has been incredibly supportive of our ambitions, and we 're looking forward to continuing this close relationship as we look ahead to further growth. ”
During the pandemic, Eric Lyons Butchers used funds raised through its delivery service to support the community by providing donations to the NHS, Love Knowle Park Project and Knowle Village Cricket Club. It also provided more than 500 sausage rolls for this year 's Knowle Christmas lights switch-on and is giving people the chance to win a free Christmas lunch on its Facebook page.
It will be part of a new Lloyds Bank marketing campaign this Christmas urging shoppers to support independent businesses like Eric Lyons Butchers over the festive period.
Nigel Arnold, relationship manager at Lloyds Bank, said: “Eric Lyons Butchers has been an outstanding example of a business that has enjoyed growth during the pandemic while serving and supporting the local community. Their forward thinking has helped them to tap into a huge opportunity, and it 's been great to see them build on this success in recent months.
“We 're looking forward to working with the business as it scales up its delivery service even further during the new year. ”