A Moray butcher has noticed a trend away from steaks to cheaper products from customers during the coronavirus lockdown.
Forres-based Macbeth’s lost 80% of its trade when the shutdown of hotels and restaurants was announced last month.
In recent days, however, the business has changed to entirely local and national deliveries with a month’s worth of online trade now being done in as little as two days.
The surge in demand has meant the company has retained its four employees without the need to furlough any of them.
Meat is supplied to the firm from the Dallas family farm at Edinvale, near Forres.
Owner Jock Gibson said tweaks to the offering have been made in order to cope with the changing customer preferences during the lockdown.
He said: “Edinvale has largely carried on as before but with more emphasis on biosecurity and social distancing.
“We have had to increase the amount of beef available to the shop from the farm to meet the new demand.
“Our ability to use the whole carcass efficiently has also increased as we are seeing a shift from steaks to mince and stew cuts.”
The butcher has secured partnerships with other local firms during the lockdown to ensure each of them has continuing trade.
But Mr Gibson has concerns the long-term effects could be damaging for the town if the current “stay at home” messages remain in force.
He added: “I really feel for the businesses that have had to close temporarily.
“It must be soul-destroying and I hope that they get the support required to see them thrive at the end of this and bring vibrancy back to Forres.”
