The Cross Butchers, Kilsyth

The Antoine Wall skirts the south side of Kilsyth and although the Romans decided that Kilsyth was to be excluded from their Empire, this North Lanarkshire town has grown to be home to 10,100.

Almost half way between Glasgow and Stirling, Kilsyth has many of the elements associated with a traditional Scottish market town, including a pedestrianised main street with a wide range of local and specialist independent shops, attractive parks and gardens at Burngreen and Colzium complete with bandstands, welcoming hostelries such as the Coachman Hotel, the Boathouse and the Scarecrow pub, and a fair choice of local restaurants.

The Cross Butcher sounds like someone to avoid but that is definitely a contradiction when it is Kilsyth's award winning meat business you are talking about. John Fleming and his staff are undoubtedly great examples of the traditional friendly butcher. Built on a foundation of cleanliness, friendliness and supplying quality product, John feels it is crucial to have what the customer is wanting.

The premises, a former Co-op butchers is situated at the market cross and has been renovated from front to back since John Fleming arrived eight years ago to help out on a part time basis.

John has extensive experience having worked at famous butchery outlets including Wilson Ferguson, Malcolm Allan and Charles Wilson. A former butcher of the year when in charge of the Gateway supermarket in Stirling. He explained how he tackled developing the business after he took charge in 2006:-

“We started out by getting the outside looking good, started all over again with new staff and while not changing everything overnight Cross butchers replaced and renovated as required.”

The six metre run of cabinet is the focus but it is faced by smart shelving for dry goods and fitted units running along the entire back wall of the front shop. A separate ready to eat cabinet completes the offering across the top end of the front shop. The result is a very tidy and slick looking unit – a clean smart environment!

Just as importantly the shop has a fresh looked-after feel to it and there is an appetising aroma in the air of Belfast Hams being cooked. Breaded Ham, Roast Beef and Roast Pork are also cooked in the premises.

John described the local press coverage given to his most recent award wins:-

“Winning the award for our steak burgers was a big, big thing for us. We got fantastic coverage in the local press for that one. It made an impact on sales and brought in customers from further afield who came to the shop for our award winning products. The steak burgers and the curry pies started it all off. Winning other awards for our Steak and Ale Pie and Gluten free products has brought even more people from all over.”

“Joining the Federation has been a big help. It has certainly moved us forward and the shop forward. Winning these awards has made a big difference to this business.”

John enjoys the external endorsements but stresses keeping the quality right is the most important thing. “If that is not right, customers don't want the product.”

Beef and lamb is supplied by John Scott Meats in Paisley, pork and bacon comes from Robertsons in Ayrshire, chickens are from Halls Direct and Christmas turkeys will be from Gartmorn.

After Steakburgers, Chilli Willi Burger is the best seller. The range includes Lamb, Feta Cheese & Red Onion Burger and a gluten free Hot & Spicy Chicken Burger. Sausages are big sellers too and recent award winners have been the Pork & Chorizo, Beef, Red Onion & Horseradish Sausage and Pork Mediterranean Sausage.

In the run up to Christmas stuffing has been in full production – Pork Sausagemeat, Sage and Onion, Chestnut, Cranberry as well as a Cross Butchers Speciality Herb Stuffing. Chipolatas are available as pork, beef or herb.

The Cross Butchers print 10,000 Christmas brochures that are distributed in the local area and they run a year round Christmas Savings Club all of which encourages customer loyalty. The brochure uses an impressive array of customer testimonials to stress the reasons for shopping at the Cross.

John is assisted by Martin, James and Claire. At Christmas they are assisted by additional staff. Martin Shaw has been at the Cross Butchers for the last six years and he claimed “competitions give you a boost and raises your game. Now local hotels are proud to offer the award winning products from their local butcher. It also gives them an increase in sales.”

James joined from the fish industry, he has just completed his Level 2 Modern Apprenticeship and is clearly more advanced than might be expected.

It might have been that ability to hone butchery skills that got John Fleming a most unlikely role advising on the film set for the popular Outlander Series three which will not be screened until May 2017. The main male star of the series, actor Sam Heughan (Jamie Fraser) who hails from near New Galloway came to Kilsyth for tuition. John explained:-

“They asked me to train the main character Sam on how to butcher venison. He came to the shop, spent half a day with us and then I supervised on the set. It was great to have someone like that, someone who is massive in America, come to the shop and to working with him was a fantastic experience.”

The Romans might have got on wrong in not going as far as Kilsyth but there is plenty of evidence that customers and celebrities alike appreciate and are very happy to meet the Cross butcher.

Attachments:

• THE_CROSS_BUTCHERS_101116.pdf

Attachments:

• THE_CROSS_BUTCHERS_101116.pdf