Freehold Specialist Butcher In South Somerset For Sale

Business description

HIGHLIGHTS:
• Highly profitable family butchers – South Somerset
• Freehold town centre premises with 3 bed accommodation over
• Originally established in 1888.
• Established commercial client base traditionally accounting for 25% of sales
• Finance available (subject to status)

LOCATION:
Crewkerne in South Somerset is situated 9 miles south west of Yeovil and 7 miles east of Chard. It lies on the River Parrett, A30 road and West of England Main Line railway.

The town grew up in the late medieval period around the textile industry, its wealth preserved in its fifteenth century parish church. It later prospered as a coaching stop in the Georgian period. During the 18th and 19th centuries the main industry was cloth making, including webbing and sails for the Royal Navy.

The town centre boasts several cafes, a wide selection of shops, three supermarkets and a choice of many different pubs. The largest supermarket is the Waitrose store which is situated in the South Street Multi Storey car park in the very heart of the town. The opening of the store has served to draw more shoppers to the town to the overall benefit of the smaller businesses too.

The smaller supermarkets are Lidl, and Co-op. The main residential areas are around the town centre with Kithill and Park View to the South and Wadham Park to the North.

BUSINESS:
This family butchers trading from imposing freehold premises in a town centre location has been associated with quality meat for over 100 years and has long held a reputation for quality products, high standards of hygiene and excellent services to all customers, including the commercial sector where local hotels, restaurants, pubs and schools have traditionally accounted for c 25% of turnover.

All meats are acquired as carcasses from West Country farms with speciality cuts always available upon request. The range of produce on offer includes home dry cured bacon, home made sausages and burgers, home cooked meats and meat products, pies and quiches, a wide selection of barbecue meats and speciality cheeses from the UK and overseas. In the highly coveted Q Guilds 2008 Smithfield Awards the firm won two gold, one silver and one bronze award. The vendors also entered in 2009, winning a further gold, silver and three bronze medals.

The shop is divided into two parts, each run independently. Until recently, one half has been run as a fishmonger’s. However the partnership is developing a new venture and will be utilising the space for the cleaning, storing and processing of Hog Roast equipment.

TRADE:
Sales of £408,290 were reported in the year ended 31/03/2011.

NET PROFIT:
An abridged net profit of £77,871 was achieved in the year ended 31/3/11 driven by gross profit margin of 37.3% of sales.

Note: £8,500 was spent on new scales for the business.

Please note that if a business is VAT registered, all figures exclude VAT.
STAFF:
The two partners work full time in the business with the support of 2 full-time (40.5 hours) and 2 part-time staff (31.5 hours and 30 hours pw) together with the assistance of a part-time cleaner/Saturday student (13.5 hours pw).

The vendor is prepared to stay on for a period after the sale to assist with the takeover.

HOURS:
Mon - Fri: 7.30am - 5.00pm
Sat: 7.30am - 2.00pm
Sun: Closed

REASON FOR SALE:
The vendors are looking to pursue other business interests.

BUSINESS PREMISES:
(all sizes are approximate & should be considered 'nominal'.)
A substantial and imposing property, subject to Grade 2 listing, comprising a terraced two storey building of solid hamstone elevations under a double pitched slate covered roof. To the rear are various single and two storey extensions, which have been added over the years.

At present the residential accommodation on the first and second floors can only be accessed via the shop. However, research by the current owners indicates that, subject to the appropriate consents, separate access could be constructed from the rear to make the residential element wholly self-contained.

The property benefits from vehicular access to the rear through a private car park in which three parking spaces are dedicated to the property.

Ground Floor:
The front of the premises benefits from an attractive predominantly glazed elevation to the butchers shop with a display window set between half glazed wooden doors, only one of which is currently in use.

Butchers Shop:
Tiled walls with traditional motifs. Tiled floor. Serve over chilled display units to two sides with further serve over deli unit and multideck display. Bizerba SC11 (new in 2010) electronic scales and tills. Meat slicer. Under stairs storage space.

The retail areas represent approximately 51 square metres when the spaces are combined.

To the rear of both retail outlets doorways give access to:

Butchery Preparation Area:
This area incorporates a full range of facilities and equipment including 2 walk-in chillers, and, new in 2011, a walk-in freezer unit. Carcass weighing scale and platform, two large hanging rails, butchers’ blocks, electronic scales, vac pac machine, fan oven, large mixer, large mincer, ham cooker, sausage filling machine and knife grinder. 2 areas for washing up.

This area also accommodates staff WC’s and lockers, there is a lockable cupboard used principally for the storage of cleaning materials and a back door gives access to the rear parking area.

The preparation rooms represent circa 31 square metres and the cold store/chiller rooms a further 34 square metres approximately.

Note:
Where items of equipment and appliances are mentioned, no warranty is given or implied as to their operational condition.

PRIVATE ACCOMMODATION:
(all sizes are approximate & should be considered 'nominal'.)
A wooden door in the preparation room to the rear of the shop gives access to a steep enclosed wooden staircase with wooden handrail rising to the residential accommodation above.

First Floor Hallway:
Wooden window to rear elevation. Staircase to second floor. Radiator. Carpeted. Doors to:

Lounge/Dining Room: (8.3m x 3.4m widening to 3.8m)

Office/Bedroom 3: (3.2m x 3.2m)

Kitchen: (3.3m x 3.2m)

Rear Hallway:

Cloakroom/Utility: (of irregular shape)

Second Floor:
Stairs rise from first floor level to:

Second Floor Hallway:
Galleried landing. Single glazed window to rear elevation with wide sill. Doors to:

Shower Room: (3.5m x 2.1m max)

Bedroom 1: (3.2m max x 5.5m max into bay)

Bedroom 2: (of irregular shape 4.1m max x 3.4m max into bay)

TENURE:
Freehold

LEGAL FEES:
Vendors and Buyers each to meet their own legal costs.

LOCAL AUTHORITY:
South Somerset District Council

COMMENTS:
This business has moved with the times and continues to thrive in the face of competition from major supermarkets through manufacture of speciality fare using only the best and locally sourced principal ingredients. Further potential exists in the marketing of the product range with the possible introduction of on-line sales.

The residential accommodation has been let to a staff member in the past to generate additional income.

The vendors are happy to stay on for an interim transition period if required by the purchaser.

Property information

Property:

Freehold