Wednesday, October 3, 2018, is a landmark date in the history of Andrew Rees Butchers as it marks the 30th anniversary of Andrew establishing what is now one of the most well known and respected butchers in West Wales.

Andrew, Janice and team would like to invite customers to a celebratory day on Wednesday, October 3. The shop will have samples of produce for customers to try, as well as a celebratory glass of fizzy wine or a soft drink. In addition, there will photographs of the staff and business over the last 30 years!

Andrew took his first steps into butchery in 1983 when he became an apprentice to Gordon Hughes Butchers in Whitland. Andrew learnt his trade here under the supervision of Gordon and also Chris Davies, who is now catering manager of the business.

In 1986, Andrew decided to widen his horizons and get experience in a catering butchers in Carmarthen. ‘Irish Wels’, as it was then, enabled Andrew to expand his skills into catering butchery, and he became assistant manager in 1987.

Despite enjoying his job, Andrew’s ambition was always to own his own business. In 1988, a well established butcher’s shop at the bottom of Narberth High Street came up for sale. During a night out with his now wife, Janice, a well known local businessman came up to them and suggested they bought the shop. Andrew was keen, but thought it was just a dream. Nevertheless, he approached local banks and with support from Lloyds Bank, and a loan from his late parents-in-law, the shop was purchased.

October 3, 1988 saw Andrew open the doors for the first time. At this time, Narberth was a very different place where every shop closed half day on a Wednesday and butchers were traditionally closed on Mondays

The rest as they say is history. This family run business has gone from strength to strength. The retail and catering side of the business expanded so much that in 1995, Unit 3 in West Wales Business Park was purchased in order to concentrate on catering orders in a purpose-built facility. The retail shop was refurbished in 1999 and underwent a huge refurbishment in 2007 when the flat above the shop was incorporated to become a cutting up area, with state-of-the-art fridges and freezers. This is the beautiful shop you see today.

The catering side of the business further expanded and extra units were purchased in 1999 and 2013. The catering side has continued to flourish with the business, which originally supplied eight local pubs, now supplying over 300 pubs, hotels, restaurants and tourist attractions as well as being awarded contracts to supply schools in both Pembrokeshire and Ceredigion.

In addition, the business has diversified into supplying not just meat, but also anything a caterer or family could possibly need… dried goods, cleaning products, sauces, sweets, drinks etc. This resulted in a Factory Store opening in February 2013. This store is an integral part of the catering unit and customers are able to see the butchers at work whilst they choose their non-meat items.

Andrew explained: “The decision to sell these products came about because of requests from catering customers. It was clear that they valued a ‘one-stop’ shop where they could purchase all elements they needed to provide high quality meals for their own customers. We decided to open to the public as well, as we value our retail customers and wanted to offer them the opportunity to buy quality items in larger quantities or in bulk.”

He added: “We believe that our factory store is unique in this aspect as the majority of ‘cash and carry’ type establishments are not open to the general public. We also offer a refrigerated delivery service to both catering and retail customers and have an up-to-date price list detailing all our products.”

The retail shop is Andrew’s pride and joy as this is where it all started. Led by manager Dave Townsend, the shop now offers ready made meals, fish, a selection of homemade sausages, burgers, faggots, meat products and a hot carvery.

Andrew told us: “I am so proud of the shop. We have managed to keep it as a traditional butchers, yet are still able to offer quick to cook meals for the busy working person. The talented butchers and serving staff are able to offer advice about how to cook different meat products and also provide a bespoke service… no joint is too small or too big… and if you are a single person wanting just two sausages… then that’s fine as well. I’m confident that this is a service no supermarket could provide.”

Andrew and his team have also won numerous awards over the years, including bronze and silver True Taste of Wales awards, Pembrokeshire Business awards, the Alan Titchmarsh Local Hero award and the Daily Telegraph and Countryside Alliance Best Rural Retailer in the UK award. In addition to these, they were successful in winning the Best Butcher’s Shop in Wales award 2011.

Andrew is under no illusion that, although he has worked very hard for the business, the success of the catering and retail side would not have been possible without two fantastic and hardworking managers, along with loyal and hardworking staff. Chris Davies and Dave Townsend, who respectively run the catering and retail shops, have been an integral part of the business and both have treated their respective premises as their own.

Andrew explained: “I have known Chris since my apprentice days in Whitland… he taught me to be a butcher, and when I decided to venture into catering, there was no other butcher I would have wanted. His knowledge of catering butchery is second to none. He knows the chefs, he makes sure that all produce is catered to their needs… he is such an asset.”

Andrew continued: “Dave joined us in 1993. He is such a great butcher and manager that I really could not do without him. He has expanded the range of meat produce we supply, as well as being a role model to apprentice butchers and serving staff. He knows every customer and what their requirements are… as my sister-in-law reminds me daily! The skills of both Dave and Chris mean that staff are continually trained and updated by the best in the business.”

On a personal note, Andrew and Janice married in 1989 and have two sons, Tomas and James. Both boys had jobs as ‘Saturday boys’ in the shop…and both were sacked at the age of 14 by their father! Thankfully, they are now more mature! Tomas is a business degree graduate and is learning the ropes of the business from Andrew, Chris and the team. He is a new dad to George, and step-dad to Jacob and Charlie with his lovely partner Jay-dee. James is an undergraduate in Bristol where he is studying digital media. He has also been involved in the business both through helping with outside catering and also, more recently on the IT side.

Andrew told us: “I cannot believe how quickly the last 30 years have flown by. I can honestly say that I would not change a thing. Jan, the boys and I feel very privileged that the business has been so successful, and we would like to thank the fantastic staff who have worked for us over the last 30 years. Without them, there would be no business. Finally, a big thank you to our retail and catering customers, old and new. We appreciate your custom and be assured we will continue to provide you with a high level of service and good quality meat for at least the next 30 years.”