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Heronhill has supplied a low temperature ceiling cassette for the butcher's shop at one of the UK's well-known stately homes, Powderham Castle, home of the Earl of Devon.

The butchery at Powderham is one of three owned by the Stillman family butchers. It is situated within the Country Store at Powderham, which also offers a food hall with a delicatessen which provides a popular outlet for local produce and speciality foods from all over the West Country.

The butchers shop was introduced to meet the demands for a traditional butcher, selling local meat as well as venison sourced from Powderham s own Deer Park.

A low temperature ceiling cassette has been fitted immediately above the block where the meat is chopped and sliced.  The QLC provides year round cooling whilst at the same time ensuring that meat is cut and prepared in an environment that meets EC food and safety standards.

  Originally we had a preparation and cutting room at the back of the Country Store. However the estate was keen to provide a traditional butchers shop enabling customers to see that the meat is fresh and prepared in a strictly controlled environment,  says David Curran, Estate Manager, Powderham Castle.

The QLC was recommended by Heronhill Air Conditioning and installed by Taunton based Western Refrigeration. A key attraction was that the QLC provides air conditioning with lower temperature control. Its four-way air distribution ensures that air is evenly distributed in the work area.

 The unit works very efficiently and is ideal for food preparation  comments butcher Mark Williams.  Prior to using Qualitair, the fat content of the meat would become
slippery and sticky. The meat would also become dryer whilst being cut up. With a temperature setpoint of 10 C this is no longer a problem.

In addition to flexible temperature control maintenance was a significant consideration. Although Western Refrigeration provides a regular service, Mark Williams carries out basic maintenance himself.  The QLC is very easy to clean and has been built to address hygiene issues. The fascia easily comes off and can be cleaned to prevent the build up of dust and bacteria. 

With no other butchers between Exeter and Dawlish the facility at Powderham is providing a valuable and well used facility. Open year round it sells over £4,000 of meat each week.

Great pride is taken in the quality of the meat sold. Prizes have been won and attracted customers such as HRH the Duke of Edinburgh who has purchased Aberdeen Angus from the butchery. Traditional butchers are becoming a rarity. But with a trend towards more natural farming methods there is a market for locally produced fresh meat. Qualitair s QLC offers an affordable system and has the in-built flexibility to address varying degree of temperature whatever the EC directive or legislation.