A word from the streets and fields
We are proud of being a family business, with the next generation already firmly established and growing in their company roles. And if it’s not too cheesy, we like to regard the whole team as part of the Netherton family. But some of our stockists have got considerably longer lineages than ours. One of these is C Booth and Son in Huddersfield. Charles, he of C. Booth fame, was a saw maker from Sheffield – the UK home of sharp, metal implements, then and now – who moved to Huddersfield in 1857. Eight years later, in 1865 he opened his shop on Cross church Street, where it was initially called Ironmongers and Cutlers.
Four generations later the shop is still trading as C.Booth and Son in its original location. By their own admission they have learnt to adapt and diversify and we are delighted that this open-minded approach has recently led them to becoming a Netherton Foundry stockist.
Founded in 1892, R.H.Bunner, now known as Bunners, was originally named after founder Robert Henry, and is just a little bit younger than Booths and is also now employing the 5th generation of the family. Equally innovative, the first Mr Bunner had an eye for an opportunity: “In 1903 Bunner established a Massey agency for farm implements. Those implements which Bunner sold at the beginning of the century were of course horse drawn. He introduced a wooden frame horse drawn binder from the United States, the first one ever to be seen in Wales. Mechanical tractors were introduced during the first war, when Bunner realised they were the coming thing in farming and lost no time in putting them on sale. Also in the early days bicycles were a strong selling line and Bunner became one of the earliest Raleigh dealers in the county. Ever one to grab at an opportunity, after the 1914 war people began to think about cars instead of bikes. Mr Bunner opened a garage and began to sell and repairs cars, dealing with new and second-hand models. In 1939 he sold his first combine harvester, again the first of its kind in Wales.” And continuing the tradition of welcoming new ideas, they have joined the Netherton gang even more recently than Booths, with the first delivery of pans arriving on the shelves just over a week ago.
Moving from the 19th to the 21st century, we are thrilled to welcome husband and wife team Raine and Yossi of Upstairs Downstairs back on to the stockist list after a bit of a break. The shop was established in 1987,and has been been winning awards since 2013; Business Innovation Award in 2013, the Excellence in Retailer Initiative in 2014 and Britain’s Best Independent Cookshop of the Year in 2021. Another dynamic business, who are never content to rest on their laurels.
Playing to their strengths – husband and wife teams run another two of our stockists, where they have taken the strength of their farm business and developed their love of the land to share their passions with the public through retail outlets. Farmer Jed and shopkeeper Emma are the team behind Blue Tin Produce, an award winning farm in Ipsden rearing fantastic quality, rare breed meats using natural, traditional methods. Their shop was first housed in a little shed, which has since been replaced by a new home, built by a local builder. The shop not only sells their outstanding meat, but also a stunning selection of local produce and now, the means to cook all of that into a delicious meal with a Netherton pan.
Head north west from there and keep going until you reach Cheshire, where you will find farmer Jack and shopkeeper Ella at Brook House Farm Shop. We love how they describe themselves as a small family run farm shop, based in Mottram St Andrew, whose values are local, traceable, accountable and sustainable. We couldn’t agree more.
Perhaps the future generations of Netherton Foundry will be writing about these “newer” family businesses in years to come, as their next generations take over. We’d like to think so.
Find all our stockists, near and far, here.
