At IFI, we’re passionate about bringing people together to celebrate innovation, tradition and the spirit of craft butchery. This October, we were delighted to welcome a group of National Craft Butchers Members to our demo kitchen for an inspiring two-day event. The visit combined product demonstrations, industry insight and community connection, all with a generous dose of IFI hospitality.
Day One: Inside the IFI Kitchen
The visit began with a warm welcome and a guided tour of our office and warehouse facilities . Guests then joined Chantelle for a presentation on IFI’s history, our vision and how we continue to support retail butchers through product innovation and the Butchers Collective educational portal.
The highlight of the day was Peter’s demonstrations. Guests enjoyed tasting some of our bestselling Arthur Pipkins Sausage & Burger Mix Blends, while also discovering our new AVO Autumn/Winter concepts. These included exciting flavour launches such as Bourguignon Sauce, our Winter Rub designed to create depth and layering in new dishes, and our Oktoberfest specials – the Weisn Hendl Rotisserie Chicken Marinade.
Of course, no one left empty-handed. Everyone took away a box of goodies, samples and all our concept recipes to try out back home
The day ended with a relaxed dinner at a local Italian restaurant, giving everyone the chance to share stories, experiences and forge stronger community ties.
Day Two: Shop Visits & Inspiration
The following day took us beyond IFI, to visit some fantastic local butchers. We visited Giglis in Lytham St Annes, where Joe, David, and Harry generously hosted our group, and then on to Honeywells at Eaves Lane in Preston, where John Gornall gave us a full behind-the-scenes tour of their impressive production facility.
These visits were the perfect way to see ideas in action, and to spark plenty of conversation about where the future of butchery is headed.
Butcher Feedback: A Community Spirit
The feedback from our guests was nothing short of phenomenal:
It was great to spend the day at Innovative Food Ingredients with our fellow members of The National Craft Butchers. A fantastic and informative day with plenty of laughs and even more learning. We have come away refreshed with new ideas and further motivation to try new products, expand our range and make meal time even easier for our customer base.
Carl, Perrys of Eccleshall
The demonstration at IFI was very informative and we have taken some great ideas. We thoroughly enjoyed the shop visits, great to see what’s happening within the industry.
Andy, Ringrose Butchers
A fantastic opportunity… truly inspiring and has already sparked many new ideas.
Winterton Butchers
Really impressed with the structure of the company and the presentations were excellent… I am looking forward to engaging with IFI going forward.
Brian Wilson, Gillions of Crosby
Phenomenal visit! Really informative, a great insight into what IFI can offer to a multitude of businesses.
Ben Roberts, Astley & Stratton
Looking Ahead
At IFI, events like this remind us why we do what we do: empowering butchers with knowledge, inspiration, and tools to help their businesses thrive.
They are about connection – bringing butchers together, sharing ideas and sparking fresh inspiration for the months ahead.
We’re really grateful to the NCB and everyone who joined us. Your energy, curiosity and feedback made this visit unforgettable. And we can’t wait to keep building on this momentum, working together to create products and experiences that help butchers – and their customers – thrive.
A very special thank you also goes to Joe, David, and Harry at Giglis for hosting us all, and to John at Honeywells for taking the time to give us a full tour of their production facility. Your generosity and openness made the visit all the more inspiring.
At IFI, we’re always excited to open our doors and share what we’re working on. If you’re interested in joining our next in-house demonstration or finding out more about how we can support your business, our team would be delighted to hear from you.
