Dewhurst butcher brand set for return

Dewhurst, the chain of butcher shops that disbanded in 1995, is set for a return to the high street after the rights to use the brand name were bought by a marketing start-up.

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The brand, first seen in 1906, has been bought by the Brand Cellar, a business setup to “acquire and reinvent heritage brands with a unique history” before selling the brands to or partnering with licensees in the UK or abroad.

A spokeswoman for the firm says that plans for the Dewhurst brand are still being worked on but branded meat goods, with a value positioning, could be sold into retailers. Dewhurst concessions could also be seen in partner food stores.

YouGov research, commissioned by Brand Cellar, found that there is an enduring fondness for the butchers. Dewhurst, which boasted 1,400 stores at its peak, was third behind Woolworths and C&A as the brand most missed by Britons.

The company has acquired 9 other brands, including Glen Rossie Whisky and Zorbit, the original manufacturer of towelling nappies.

For brands such as the 200-year-old Glen Rossie, the spokeswoman adds, Brand Cellar will look to partner with licensees in emerging markets such as India, where it believes there is an appetite for provenance brands.

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