Jamie Ward comes from a long line of farmers and has spent much of his life farming with his family. When Oswestry Farmers Market started in 1999, Jamie changed direction and began selling his homemade sausages and pork products from his own pigs. “From that point, we’ve never looked back,” says the new owner of Chirk’s High Street butchers.
The purchase of McArdle’s Butchers’ Shop is the latest major development for the Jamie Ward’s Butchers business.
The growing demand for Jamie’s quality products led to the renovation of a farm building into a registered cutting plant. Jamie soon started to supply local shops with homemade sausages, dry cured bacon and pork products.
Based just outside Whittington, over the years each member of the family has come home to work with Jamie to help ensure the business continues to thrive and grow. Wife Janet, daughter Tori and son Dave each play a big part in the running of the business. Dave is the Shop Manager at Chirk, but there are plenty of familiar faces still behind the counter. As the good side of the Wards’ farming business quickly grew it became Jamie’s main focus. Eventually, it led to Jamie selling his herd of pigs and bidding farewell to farming.
In 2013, the opportunity arose for Jamie and his family to join Bellis Brothers Farm Shop and Garden Centre, another family business. At the heart of an already established Farm Shop, Jamie Ward’s Butchers and Deli takes pride of place. Open 7 days a week, the counters are always stocked full of local meats, cheese and homemade pies. Not forgetting Jamie’s original sausages and bacon from the farm.
“We’ve been overwhelmed by the warmth of the welcome we’ve had from the people of Chirk, and the Ceiriog Valley”
JANET WARD
“After almost 20 years, I’ve now stopped attending the Farmers’ Artisan Market in Oswestry to concentrate on the shop in Chirk. Without the loyal support of our existing customers, the hard work of the market manager and all his staff, as well as our own, this latest exciting venture would not have been possible,” Jamie says.
“We’ve been overwhelmed by the warmth of the welcome we’ve had from the people of Chirk, and the Ceiriog Valley,” adds Janet. “Everyone has been so friendly.”
With a blend of this established business and Jamie’s reputation for sourcing local meats and cheeses the future looks bright indeed.
Visit the team in their new shop on Chirk High Street; Unit 1, St Mary’s Precinct, Church Street, Chirk, LL14 5HK
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