Tadmarton Products –25 years of getting it right with Bakers Butchers

Bakers Butchers is a family-owned independent butchers shop located in the busy market town of Witney in Oxfordshire. The long-established business is a retail butcher, and also supplies a number of top-class restaurants and other catering establishments in the area.

Bakers Butchers’ reputation has been built on the provision of quality fresh and cooked meat. The shop also has a delicatessen counter, selling a range of cooked meat and a selection of filled baguettes, rolls and panini. All the meat used on the deli counter, such as roast beef, pork, turkey breast and ham, is home-cooked on the premises.

Donald Baker was introduced to Tadmarton Products long before opening his shop in the 1980s. The Banbury-based meat wholesaler was a regular supplier to his then employer in Abingdon. When Bakers Butchers opened its doors in Witney, Tadmarton was the obvious choice of wholesale supplier.

The relationship between Bakers Butchers and Tadmarton Products has spanned more than a quarter of a century. Donald Baker describes Tadmarton as being ‘very helpful and efficient’. He buys both poultry and meat, with regular deliveries being made each week. Since the Tadmarton Products’ range has grown to encompass beef, pork and lamb as well as poultry, Bakers has been able to source more of its meat from the Banbury wholesaler. Donald Baker orders duck, turkey and whole chicken for his shop, as well as fillets and chicken joints, prepared in the Tadmarton cutting room. A recent addition to Baker’s range of fresh poultry is Tadmarton’s new tray-wrapped Shropshire chicken.

Tadmarton Products is in regular telephone contact with Bakers Butchers. Donald frequently speaks with Steve Harper and other members of the sales team. Although Donald does not yet take advantage of Tadmarton’s special offer text service, Billy, his ‘right-hand man’ does. Instead, Donald is notified of the week’s offers by phone. He says he is always keen to hear about them, as they help increase his profit margins. Although Tadmarton’s special offers are also listed on the website, Donald Baker says he is ‘not a computer person’ and enjoys the open lines of communication and personal service. Bakers can place orders out of hours if necessary, by phoning the sales team on their mobiles, or by leaving a message on the Tadmarton ansaphone. There is a great camaraderie between Bakers and Tadmarton, which extends from the head office staff though to the company’s delivery drivers.

With a frequent delivery schedule, Tadmarton’s ordering and invoicing system has to be efficient. If any products are not available, they are put on back order and the shop notified immediately, ensuring Bakers Butchers’ customers are not let down. Donald Baker described the invoicing system as being ‘smooth’. On the rare occasion there is a problem, it is dealt with immediately with a collection note issued and the products replaced.

Bakers Butchers appreciates Tadmarton’s quality products, extensive range, and high standard of service. These are the ingredients for a long-standing professional relationship.

“Tadmarton looks after us very well and things run smoothly. They have a wide variety of good quality poultry and meat and it pays us to stay with them. They get it right!”

Donald Baker
Bakers Butchers, Witney, Oxfordshire

“Excellent” – Bates Butchers Verdict on Tadmarton Products

Just off the main street in the beautiful Leicestershire town of Market Harborough, you’ll find Bates Butchers. The shop, housed in a Grade II Listed building, is the quintessential butchers, complete with its liveried vintage bicycle on display outside. In days gone by, the shop had its own abattoir and farm which supplied the meat.

Eddie Partyka, who has been a butcher for the past 30 years, bought Bates in the 1990s. As well as the retail, over-the-counter trade, Bates supplies local pubs, restaurants, and schools. While very much the traditional butchers, Bates also boasts an impressive delicatessen counter, selling a range of speciality foods including cooked meat, British and continental cheese, quiche, and home-made pasties and pies.

Tadmarton Products has been supplying Bates Butchers for around 10 years. Eddie Partyka enjoys a good relationship with Mick Roche, who manages the Bates account. Eddie is impressed with Tadmarton’s range of fresh and frozen meat and has regular deliveries through the week. Amongst his regular purchases are chicken, chicken livers, duck, pork, bacon, gammon, beef, and McSween’s haggis. Around 50% of Bates’ chicken portions, in particular the supremés, come from Tadmarton Product’s cutting rooms, which Eddie says ‘gives him flexibility in what he can offer his customers’.

Eddie described Tadmarton’s range as excellent and said ‘it makes it easy for me because I can source a wide range of meat and get regular deliveries.” When asked if he would like to see anything else added to the Tadmarton range, he said the range was already so extensive, he couldn’t think of anything else!

He is a big fan of the Tadmarton’s new special offer text messaging service saying, “It’s really good. I got a text on Wednesday and saw the offer, and thought … that’s a good idea … so I phoned Mick the next day and put my order in.”

As well as being sent by text message, Tadmarton’s special offers are also listed on the website. Eddie regularly checks this out too, making sure he doesn’t miss any of the special offers. He is impressed with Tadmarton Products’ new site, saying ‘it’s easy to find your way around and it’s got all the information I need there”.

When Bates takes a delivery from Tadmarton, his order is unloaded, checked into a computer, and his delivery note is printed off. Eddie describes Tadmarton’s invoicing system as efficient. If, on the rare occasion there is a problem, it is dealt with quickly and without fuss. Eddie simply returns the item on his next delivery and either receives a credit note or a replacement product.

I’m really happy with Tadmarton Products. We get a good range and that makes life easier for me and I’m more than happy with the service too. Tadmarton’s range, quality, service and reliability is just excellent!

Eddie Partyka
Bates Butchers Market Harborough