Crawshaw back on the growth trail

The Rotherham-based company, which currently trades from 20 butchery stores across Yorkshire, Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire, said it recently agreed terms on a new store.

Improving trading recently allowed Crawshaw to kickstart stalled expansion plans. Chairman Richard Rose told shareholders trading at both its new and existing shops continues to be ahead of budget, with gross margins in the year to date three per cent ahead of a year ago.

It opened seven new stores between July 2008 and May 2009, including sites in Castleford, Huddersfield, Doncaster and Bramley in Leeds. However, expansion plans stalled last year as consumers opted for cheaper cuts of meat and visited their local butcher less often.

"Our expansion programme is good for employment in Yorkshire and we continue to expand our employment base," said Mr Rose, declining to identify where its new store will be.

Crawshaw is sticking to a programme of opening larger stores, which are showing "very satisfactory" profitability and returns on investment. All resolutions were passed at its annual shareholder meeting yesterday.