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A Longridge cheesemaker has paid tribute to another Lancashire-based firm that helped it overcome a devastating fire just before Christmas last year.
In November 2023 in the busy run up to Christmas, Butlers Farmhouse Cheeses office and packing site on Shay Lane, Longridge, was destroyed in a blaze.
James Hall and Co., the SPAR wholesaler and distributor located just down the road at Bowland View in Preston, immediately came to Butlers’ aid by offering the business a lifeline.
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Almost overnight, a full stock holding system was established at Bowland View which enabled the Butlers team a full record of every pallet held in the building, and an assembly space and a storage area was created within the warehouse for their Christmas cheese hampers.
Transport was provided between the storage area at Bowland View and Butlers’ production facility and, initially, over 700 pallets of stock were being stored in late 2023.
Since February of this year, the business arrangement has formalised, with hundreds of pallets continuing to be stored at James Hall and Co. as Butlers has recovered, with pallets either coming or going between sites five days a week.
Although not related, the families behind both businesses share the Hall name, and on National Cheese Day (June 4), Matthew Hall and Andrew Hall celebrated the success of the ongoing partnership.
Matthew Hall, fourth generation owner of Butlers Farmhouse Cheeses, said: “Our devastating fire occurred at the busiest time of year in the run up to Christmas.
“We are incredibly grateful for the support we received at such a critical and difficult time.”
Andrew Hall, joint managing director of James Hall and Co., said: “I remember first hearing of the fire and my shock at seeing the damage. Offering business support to Matthew and the family at Butlers was simply the right thing to do in the circumstances.
“I am delighted to see how the relationship has evolved in the months since, and reflecting on the partnership work, I think it has been a wonderful business lesson in what can be achieved in a very short space of time through trust, experience, and excellent communication.”
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