Exeter butcher tells porkies about ‘local’ gammon

An Exeter butcher has pleaded guilty to misleading customers by claiming his Danish gammon steaks were ‘local’.

Devon County Council prosecuted Mr Kevin Hollamby (aged 56 of Cherry Gardens, Exeter) after their trading standards team found he was passing off smoked and un-smoked gammon steaks on sale at his Hartnell Fresh Foods store on Longbrook Street, as ‘local’ when in fact they were supplied by the Danish Bacon Company and were of Danish origin.

Enquiries with My Hollamby’s suppliers also revealed no evidence of ‘local’ gammon being supplied or ordered in the last three months. In fact the most ‘locally’ sources gammon during that time was from Essex.

There is no specific definition of the term ‘local’ in consumer protection legislation, but Devon County Council’s Trading Standards Service advises traders that the word should only be used to describe products originating from Devon or within 30miles of the business, which would cover very limited parts of the neighbouring counties of Cornwall, Somerset and Dorset if the business is located near the county borders.

Councillor Roger Croad, Devon County Cabinet Member for Communities who has responsibility for the council’s Trading Standards Service, said:

“When you buy something, it is important that what you receive is exactly what it says it is – so if you buy a ‘local’ gammon steak, you expect it to be from Devon or at the very least the Westcountry, not hundreds of miles away from Denmark.

“People choose to buy local products for a variety of reasons, for example freshness, reduced food miles and a perception of better quality as well as to support local businesses.

“In this case, where the consumer is buying meat, food provenance and the associated farming standards are also important considerations. It is about enabling customers to make an informed choice about what they eat and where it comes from. 

"Mr Hollamby took away that right and misled his customers into thinking they were buying a local British product farmed to British welfare standards.

"By passing off a product as local he could also have damaged the good reputation of other local butchers, meat producers and farmers who trade honestly and legally and accurately describe their meat.

“This case sends a clear message to those who seek to rip off their customers and jeopardise the business interests of local producers who operate within the law.

“We will continue to take all necessary steps to protect residents and legitimate local businesses from such illegal business activities.”

Appearing at Exeter Magistrates Court, Mr Hollamby was fined £200 and ordered to pay costs of £400 and a £15 victim surcharge.