A family-owned business which has been operating for over 120 years from the same site in Nuneaton is continuing to diversify and invest in its future.
Award-winning Frank Parker Butchers is now being run by the family of founder Frank Parker – 82-year-old Frank, his sons Tim and Jon and three of Tim’s children Hannah, Ben and George, in Abbey Green.
Tim mentioned to regular customer Nuneaton MP Marcus Jones that he wondered if there was any grant support available to help buy a new machine to make the 10,000 burgers it produces every week.
The MP’s office got in touch with the Coventry and Warwickshire Growth Hub and Account Manager Laura Delahunty arranged for Tim to talk to Kierandeep Bal, Business Development Advisor at Coventry City Council.
The 123-year-old firm, which employs 26 staff, successfully applied for a grant of £1,800 from the Coventry and Warwickshire Business Support Programme, which is part funded by the European Regional Development Fund and delivered by Coventry City Council and added £6,000 itself.
A Formatic R2200 burger machine has now been installed and is already producing the variety of homemade burgers for which the business is renowned for throughout the region and further afield.
Tim said its previous burger machine was three years old which was the time the business always looked to replace its machines with newer models.
He said: “Marcus comes to the shop every week and I was chatting about our burger machine and that it needed upgrading.
“The next thing I knew Laura from the Growth Hub got in touch and then Kierandeep and we found out we were eligible for a grant. This is the first time we have ever received any funding and we are really grateful for the support.
“This will help to grow the business because this machine can produce more burgers which are a massive part of our butchers, and it is helping to get the sizes right with the same ingredients.
“Our old machine had lost its mojo because it has been working flat out for three years so the new machine will help us to become more productive and grow our team and their skills since we currently have two young lads on trial who we are hoping to offer full-time employment to.
“In our staff we have a mix of experience and modern views, and it is important that we keep improving and learning to provide elite burgers and sausages and all our other products for our customers.”
Laura Delahunty, Account Manager at the Coventry and Warwickshire Growth Hub said it was great to see the machine in operation at such a busy business.
“One of the best parts of my job is going out to visit businesses like Frank Parker Butchers after they have received grant support and seeing the difference a machine is making to their day-to-day operations,” she said.
“This is the first time they have accessed grant support in their entire history, but we are here to help businesses of all sizes however long they have been in operation, and this machine will help them to continue to grow and innovate.”
Kierandeep Bal, Business Development Advisor at Coventry City Council, added: “I’m pleased to have been able to support Frank Parker Butchers with the upgrade of the burger machine which is crucial in the day-to-day running of the business. It just shows you the smallest of grants can make the biggest difference to a business; not only will it result in two new jobs created but it will mean the business can increase production of burgers and get ready for a busy BBQ season this summer.
“This is a business that has been serving the local community in Nuneaton for many generations and its fantastic to see the level of commitment, passion, and desire in continuing to grow the business further. I wish them all the best and hope to support them in their future growth plans.”
Caption: From the left, George Parker, Kierandeep Bal (Coventry City Council), Hannah Parker, Ben Parker, Tim Parker and Laura Delahunty (Coventry and Warwickshire Growth Hub) with the new burger machine