The Farmers Mart Aug/Sep 2016 - Issue 47 | Page 65

Farm
H Copley
Name

a firm believer that when you
give a genuine personal service
it pays dividends again and
again. But as you well know,
in Yorkshire in particular,that if
what you sell ain’t good they
wain’t be coming back – and
they’ll tell all their friends!
GOOD GRUB IS ALWAYS
IN DEMAND
Howard’s knowledge and
passion for good meat means
you only get the best and as
often demand outsteps supply
from his own farm, he will
supplement his stock direct
from round the corner at
L Wood’s at Scammonden.
He cures his own meats,
bacon and makes his very
own sausage. Such is the
quality and taste of Howard’s
sausages that a local café in
Linthwaite approached him
for 25 sausages initially. This
then grew to 50 and didn’t
stop there, so much so that
they now order 300 on a
Friday and 100 on Monday and
Wednesday!
It doesn’t stop there:
Howard’s stint at the bakery
has also paid dividends –

originally there were only pork
pies but this has now expanded
to a full range of other pies and
pasties and how good are they?
Well, I admit I tucked into one
on the way home – delicious!
For example, Gary Butlers in
Lindley started by taking 10
pies Tuesday/Wednesday/
Thursday – that’s now 30 or 40
with even greater numbers at
the weekend, then there is a
butcher in Meltham, a bakers in
Marsden and the local garden
centre all taking significant
numbers.
They now also wholesale
meat to the catering trade
and something that has
become very popular of late.
Many smallholders locally are
bringing their single pigs, lambs
etc after slaughter to be cut and
dressed by Howard.
A GREAT TEAM
This is a great achievement
in only six years – but clearly
with this sort of progress and
a rapidly growing reputation,
it is too much for one man.
Enter the scene, Jordan
Fretwell, who initially worked
as a Saturday lad just for

some pocket money. Howard
instantly saw potential in
Jordan and persuaded him to
come as an apprentice, which
was a big decision as he had
always wanted to become a
chef, but as Howard told me:
“He took to butchery like a
duck to water”. Jordan has
excelled at Leeds college and
he is now involved with World
Skills in Butchery. Howard and
Jordan make a great team.
Jordan has now got Copley’s
embracing social media even
with an Instagram account!
Howard paid tribute to
Jordan: “He is a great worker
and gets on with things, doing

what is necessary without
being asked most of the
time”.
This friendly and yet
professional team go from
strength to strength selling
many prepared meat dishes,
cheese and traditional beef
dripping (many customers
asked for it during my visit)
alongside their high quality
meat and some poultry.
As for the future, Howard
says he would like to do his
own slaughtering, but the
main focus is to consolidate
their considerable success,
achieved in such a short space
of time.

Dalziel -

Serving the
Food Industry
Pleased to be a long standing supplier
of ingredients and packaging to
Copleys Butchers and wish them
continued success for the future.

Dalziel. Quality where it counts. Talk to us.
Dalziel Ltd, Unit F1 Summit Park, Whistler Drive, Castleford WF10 5HX

01977 605 590

www.farmers-mart.co.uk Aug/Sep 2016 65