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A struggling butcher has blamed the vegan boom for the decline in her business.
Pat Jenkins, who is Britain’s longest-serving butcher, says business at her Bournemouth shop has reduced by a third over the last 10 years. She also pinpointed supermarkets and the decline of the high street as issues.
Vegan growth
“The business has changed a lot over the years,” Jenkins told the Daily Mail. “Years ago meat was the thing to have, everyone had their meat and two veg. But now a lot of people are very anti-meat and say it’s not good for you.
“Meat gets a lot of bad publicity. Veganism and vegetarianism is the hot topic with younger people. It seems that each generation coming up is less meat-orientated.”
‘Supermarkets and parking problems have made things tougher too. If people can easily park then they will stop and come in but if they can’t park they will keep on going to the supermarket.
Go vegan
In response to the story, animal rights charity PETA has contacted Jenkins, proposing that she turns the shop into the UK’s first vegan butcher – winning new custom.
“There is a huge, exciting variety of vegan meats available, from tofu hot dogs to ‘bleeding’ burgers, steaks, faux gras, sausages, and even fakin’ bacon,” said PETA Director of Vegan Corporate Projects Dawn Carr. “Rebranding as Mason’s Vegan Butchers and switching to plant-based meats could see the business thrive for the next 60 years and beyond.”
PETA adds: “Each person who eats vegan spares nearly 200 animals every year a terrifying, bloody death in today’s meat, egg, and dairy industries. Plant-based meals are also greener, as the United Nations has said that a global switch to vegan eating is necessary to offset the worst effects of climate change. In addition, vegans are less likely to suffer from heart disease, strokes, diabetes, obesity, and cancer than meat-eaters are.”
