A FAMILY-run Ledbury butchers has had its best ever Christmas since moving over the road.
DT Waller and Sons has seen business boom since relocating from 71 The Homend, over to number 88 on the same road.
The butchers, which is ran by David Waller and his sons Matt and Nathan, moved premises on October 12, and has since experienced the most successful Christmas in its 48-year history.
Business still continues to boom throughout January - a period where butchers typically struggle due to the Christmas hangover and 'Veganuary'.
David initially set up the butchers in 1977, with Matt and Nathan joining up in 1991.
Now David works as the managing director, Nathan heads catering, production and manufacturing, while Matt leads the marketing and shop work.
Nowadays, Wallers owns facilities in Wye Valley and Colwall alongside Ledbury.
"Dad closed the door on 71 [The Homend] two weeks before his 47th year in Ledbury, so that was a significant and emotional day for him," said Matt.
"We now have ecommerce, Wallers Butchers online, we have got a YouTube channel - WallersTV - teaching people how to do different ‘butchery’ things.
"The business got too big for 77, it is a lovely shop and it served us well."
The butchers saw an overwhelmingly positive response to the move, and a clear upturn in business.
"We couldn’t be happier with the support that we have had, not only vocally but custom," said Matt.
"We have had the most successful Christmas we have ever had, we did over 1,000 orders in four days here.
"We have seen probably a 20 to 30 percent increase in trade.
"We have increased product lines. Breads have increased, but the cooked meats counter - so pies, the sliced meats, the quiches, all that sort of stuff, we’ve probably tripled our cooked meat products sales. That is quite amazing really."
The impressive growth in business has continued in January, a month that butchers typically struggle in.
"It is bigger, more spacious, more things on show, that is all the we can say that has made the difference," said David.
Matt echoed a similar sentiment, attributing the sales to the 'buzz' surrounding the shop: "One of the main reasons why trade hasn’t dropped in January as much as it did at the old place is there is still a buzz around the shop, people are excited that we have got a new shop in town, it is a real nice shop, we have done it all ourselves.
"There is still an element of excitement in town, customers that we haven’t seen in a long time have come back, and even people that we have never seen before are coming in.
"We are proud of the suppliers because without them we wouldn’t have the business we have got, we’re proud of the staff, and thankful to our customers for their loyalty and support.
"It is a testament to my dad at the end of the day. He had the foresight, he set it up and because of him we have the opportunity to do what we do.
"When I was very, very young he sacrificed so much to achieve what we have achieved now. It is lovely that he gets to see the achievements come to fruition like this."
The move has seen the butchers take on new staff and they are now advertising for a new apprentice to join the business.
The Christmas period also saw the business raise significant money for a number of charities.
With a brass band performance and mulled wine and mince pies served by local, Rosie Ford, Wallers was able to raise significant funds for St Michaels, MacMillan, Prostate Cancer, and Diabetes UK.
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