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Background - The Real Meat Company has been aware of the problem of butchers profiting by substituting our meat since we started
in 1986.
- Unlike organic, Freedom Foods and other ‘alternative’
meat suppliers we pioneered and operate sophisticated security systems and are prepared to take steps when they are triggered.
- Our concern is always for the end customer. If an intermediary
is prepared to cheat customers wanting to support the principle for which the Real Meat Company stands, we will take measure
against them even though we will eventually risk losing sales.
- Our wholesale butchers are well aware that we operate this system and most have the sense to respect it.
Alcock - Alcock Family Butcher was one of our oldest wholesale customers. Under the ownership of Tony Alcock, we enjoyed a
good commercial relationship. The shop was one of our biggest customers. Tony Alcock even spoke on Real Meat’s behalf
on Radio Oxford.
- When Tony and his wife decided to sell up and move on, they sold
the shop to their daughter and son in law. Sales started to drop, payments became irregular and the order pattern started
to fluctuate suspiciously.
The security operation - Earlier this year, three butchers had security tests run to protect the trust
of the end customer. Samples of all of the beef going to the shops were taken over an extended period. A secret shopper then
bought cuts of beef from all three shops.
- The samples
were sent to a specialist DNA phorensic laboratory in Trinity College, Dublin who we have used for years. More details can
be found at: www.identigen.com .
- The only sample to fail was Alcock.
For the avoidance of doubt, we made a recording of the shopping
transaction when the substituted purchase was made. If you would like to hear it, please click on the link below. The sound
quality is not great but you will hear the critical details.
Click HERE to listen to a recording of shop transaction
It makes pretty harrowing
listening.
It is Paul England undertaking the sale. As proprietor, he also places the weekly order with us and
would be in a position to know that he could not possibly have had a "Real Meat fore rib of beef". This prime cut
comes off the forequarter of a beef steer. He had not ordered one of those from us for months.
The security tests
cost us around £600. We have lost a wholesale customer who in their heydey
spent up to £80k per annum with us. But at least we reinforce the proof that the
Real Meat Company always has and always will put principles and customer trust beyond all else!
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