Long-established butchers aiming to remain a quality cut above the rest

Now aged 89, he's about to witness another, more personal, milestone. The business he established in 1945 – Richmonds Butchers – is about to grow substantially as it opens a new store.

The company, which is run by Mr Richmond's son, Michael, expects to take on more staff and increase its turnover by around a third as it attracts more customers.

Richmonds has an unexpected link with the world of motor racing. In 1979, the company was asked to sponsor Eddie Jordan's first Formula 3 team. Richmonds decided to rise to the challenge and became the chief sponsor of the team for a season.

The Richmonds are proud of the fact that some of their customers have been visiting their shop in the Market Place, Ossett, West Yorkshire, since it opened 65 years ago.

The 600,000 turnover business also has a store in Barnsley Road, Sandal, near Wakefield, which was opened by Michael in February 2000.

A new store, which will increase the company's staff numbers from 15 to 20, is due to open in Sandal soon.

Michael Richmond said he was determined to defy the economic uncertainty by investing in the business and its staff.

The company's founder, Eric, was born in 1921 and lived at home with his mother, father and two sisters, until the age of 19 when he volunteered to join the RAF in 1940.

In September 1943, after successfully completing his flight training in South Africa, Eric was awarded his "wings" and was stationed at the RAF base Elsham Woulds, near Grimsby.

He stayed in the RAF for another two years, where he achieved the rank of Flying Officer and piloted Wellington and Lancaster bombers in 100 Squadron.

The 100 Squadron dates from 1917 and is probably best known for its bombing raids over Germany.

When the war ended, Eric finally returned home where he opened Richmonds Butchers in September 1945.

He still keeps a watchful eye over the business and describes himself as his son's biggest supporter.

Michael Richmond said he believed the new store would increase the total business turnover by around 30 per cent.

A company spokesman said: "No firm date has been set as yet but Michael hopes the third store will be open for summer 2011."

Michael Richmond believes the next year will be difficult for the UK economy because of the public sector spending cuts which are planned by the coalition Government. This could lead to an increase in unemployment, which will affect consumer spending.

He added: "Many customers have come in and said they will not be going on holiday this year. There could be a lot more pain to come. There's not the money about that there was. People have been so much more careful. We all rely on each other."

Mr Richmond said sandwich sales had been affected by the slump in the construction sector during the recession.

Workmen who had been regular sandwich customers stopped calling when work halted on major regeneration schemes, Mr Richmond said.

He has never forgotten the first piece of business advice given to him by his father: "Don't be greedy. It's better to have 10p every day from a customer rather than 1 and never see them again."

Champions of the upper crust

Richmonds has a history of quality pie making. The company was the supreme champion of the Great Yorkshire Pie Competition

in 1985.

The next year, it won silver and bronze medals in the National Pie Competition.

The company is a big supporter of Yorkshire produce. The meat comes from John Penny & Sons' Low Green Farm in Rawdon, near Leeds, and all the poultry comes from South Milford Farm, in North Yorkshire.

The best selling product is the company's pork pie while the season's speciality product is rolled shoulder of pork, due to the large number of requests for barbecue food which can be cooked indoors

Its longest standing customer – a local woman – has been coming to the Ossett store since it opened 65 years ago.