News RSS Feed


Customers' SOS call for butchers facing the chop

12:32pm Friday 28th September 2007

comment Comments (45)   Have your say »


Loyal customers of a 130-year-old butchers which is facing the chop at Christmas have put out an SOS call, to 'Save Our Sausages'.

Kennedy's butchers - which has two shops in Croydon - is planning to wind down its business at the end of this year because of an increase in overheads and a drop in custom.

"I turned down a promotion and took a sideways move to Beckenham just so that I'd be nearer to a supply. Set up a website, mortgage your mother-in-law, sell the Merc. Do something and do it now!"

Bryan Swallow

However the company's small army of loyal customers have reacted with shock and have vowed to do what they can to ensure the future of the butcher's renowned sausages.

One customer, Bryan Swallow, claims he even turned down a promotion to be near a Kennedy's so he and his wife could have regular access to their sausages.

He said: "Kennedy's make the best sausages and chipolatas anywhere, ever. I live in Bristol now and me and the wife went on the internet to find out if we could buy their sausages online - then we found they were closing.

"This can't be allowed to happen, we must find a way for them to continue trading. I used to drive 50 miles just to buy the pork sausages.

"I turned down a promotion and took a sideways move to Beckenham just so that I'd be nearer to a supply. Set up a website, mortgage your mother-in-law, sell the Merc. Do something and do it now!"

Another customer, Paul Beaumont, added: "For me it has to be the particular scented atmosphere of the actual shop, the dressing of the shop and the splendid, memorable taste of the sausages.

"Kennedy's closure is very sad indeed, a further loss from Britain's great past."

Other customers who have been Kennedy's customers since before the war say they cannot believe the butchers is to close.

John Jarratt, from Shirley, even claims Kennedy's sausages have a cult following in Malaysia after he took a batch there for his sons.

The 86-year-old said: "I can't believe it and I will do what I can to campaign to keep it open. I just can't understand it - my wife and I go there once a week and the place is always full.

"I can remember going there during the war when everything was rationed. We were only allowed small portions but the queues at Kennedy's were always long.

"I once took a batch of Kennedy's marvellous sausages out to Malaysia where my sons were out there working. They were such a hit that soon there was a a demand for Kennedy's sausages among the Malaysians. I tell you, they can't be beaten for taste."

Gwen Moxham, 84, has been a customer at the Church Road branch of Kennedy's since she was a girl. She said: "I've been going to Kennedy's about twice a week since before the war. My grandmother was also a customer and she would be very upset to know they were closing.

"I remember during the war getting up very early and joining the queue outside Kenendy's to make sure we got some of their sausages and chipolatas. It's a sad day."

The last trading day of Kennedy's will be on December 22, except for one shop which will close next month.

Print article » Email to a friend »

Your Say YourCroydon Guardian

Jason, Croydon says...
2:03pm Fri 28 Sep 07

I've never heard of anyone turning down a promotion for sausages before?

Report this post »

Tim, says...
4:34pm Fri 28 Sep 07

"The last trading day of Kennedy's will be on December 22, expect for one shop which will close next month." Who on earth have they got working at the Croydon Guardian?

Report this post »

Alison, Croydon says...
4:46pm Fri 28 Sep 07

Maybe telling us which shop closes when would be helpful too? That last sentence really could have done with some work before it was sent out!

Report this post »

Debbie Lee, says...
10:31pm Sun 30 Sep 07

Alison wrote:
Maybe telling us which shop closes when would be helpful too? That last sentence really could have done with some work before it was sent out!
I can tell you that the Bromely High St branch will close on 27th October. Get your sausages while you can!

Report this post »

Carol Stevens, Canterbury, Kent says...
7:20pm Tue 2 Oct 07

Someone start a petition to encourage Kennedys to start doing their sausages mail order or via internet site. We would certainly buy, buy, buy and recommend to all our friends

Report this post »

Tigs, says...
10:08am Wed 3 Oct 07

Obviously Tescos or some other supermarket chain have taken a lot of their business away. I notice most of the customers who are loyal appear to be very old age pensioners. It was probably much easier for them to go somewhere local then to travel further afield to a soulless giant conglomerate.

Very sad that another part of traditional British trade is dying out. We'll all look back when we're older and regret it.

Report this post »

Lesley, Cobham says...
4:06pm Wed 3 Oct 07

Just returned from holiday to hear the news that "next year we will not see or taste" Kennedy's any more..... has anyone thought of buying the receipe and carrying on the good name.... If they do let me know where they are opening up.. I will be a regular bulk buyer... by the way tigs I am not one of the OAP's!!!!!!

Report this post »

Eric Weetman, Selsdon, S Croydon says...
7:20pm Thu 4 Oct 07

What??!! - this cannot be allowed to happen. These are the best sausages known to man (or woman)and Kennedys have a great following. Please don't go. Can't they be declared an endangered species?
quote

Report this post »

Kevin Hrn, Forest Hill says...
10:23pm Thu 4 Oct 07

If any one involved with Kennedy's is reading this, why not carry on producing these great saussages somewhere else, with lover rent, then take orders via the internet. We will all be able to remember a web address such as Kennedy.com or even saussages.com!

Afterall, there's loads of units and retail space available in the Croydon area and I feel sure they would love to fill some of it.

Report this post »

Alison, Sanderstead says...
1:44pm Fri 5 Oct 07

Kennedys sausages are a part of many peoples lives. Can't believe they are going. Have been bulk buying for years and taking them when I visit relatives who have moved away. hope they can keep up with a huge increase in bulk buying til closing day !

Report this post »

Bean, JERSEY says...
4:05pm Fri 5 Oct 07

My other half is from Bromley and introduced me to kennedys and we have been bringing kennedys back toJersey for years now.

We always get lots of people asking us to get them some!

The best sausages ever tasted.

Please, please save the sausages!
We need chipolatas for our Christmas dinner!!!

Report this post »

Lee, BECKENHAM says...
4:35pm Fri 5 Oct 07

well said Bean . Ive lived in Beckenham for 17 years and i was shocked to see our shop go . The galling thing was the guy who used to work there ( now working in the hardware shop)told me they were going to make it in to a McDonalds . I ask you !! Please save something decent . The Tories keep banging about the "family" being the key to social stability . Well if tfamilies sat down twice a week to a Kennedy's sausage supper i don't think that the kids would want to go out shooting people . Just a thought .

Report this post »

Shelagh, West Wickham says...
9:15pm Sat 6 Oct 07

This cannot happen, these really are the best sausages ever. I heard that the owners were selling all their shops, why can't they trade through a supermarket if they have to close the shops. What ever happend to 'serving the public'

Report this post »

james, kent says...
5:21pm Sun 7 Oct 07

my family have been eating kennedys sausages ,pies etc since the early 1900s,use the two in pecham,also walworth road,bromley etc..

cant belive i wont ever be eating there sausages again after they close

gutted

Report this post »

Ed, Beckenham says...
2:20pm Mon 8 Oct 07

Am devistated to hear Kennedy's is closing. Have been enjoying them for the last twenty years - superb recipe, nothing to touch them. Wish they were still going to be around.

Report this post »

Jean, Bromley says...
2:28pm Mon 8 Oct 07

Our family have been shopping at Kennedy's since the early 50's. Can remember the lovely jellied veal that was sliced in half circles - gorgeous. Wonderful sausages, pies and pastry. Am very sad to see such a wonderful family business closing.

Report this post »

Tony, West Wickham says...
6:09pm Mon 8 Oct 07

I can only echo what has been posted above - without doubt the finest tasting sausages on the planet!! Thy idea of setting up a website selling these famous sausages online has to be a great business opportunity. Keep the same suppliers, keep the same recipe, and get the local press/radio/tv stations involved. On another matter - the shops must not be allowed to be torn apart, they are historical treasures of a bygone age!

Report this post »

mark knight, says...
12:54pm Tue 9 Oct 07

What 2 shops in Croydon - do you mean Bromley, Beckenham or West Wickham
I travel up from Eastbourne especially to buy my sausages from Kennedy's still

Report this post »

Jay Birkenshaw, Brighton says...
1:39pm Tue 9 Oct 07

This cannot happen. Kennedys sausages are the best anywhere nothing else comes close. Although now living in brighton I make regular trips to bromley where my mum has a stash of them in her frezzer. Christmas dinner wont be the same without them. Sell them on the net!!!!

Report this post »

Alan Lewis, Dorset says...
8:56pm Wed 17 Oct 07

I have had deliveries of sausages brought down by friends and family for nearly ten years since I moved from Croydon.There's nothing down here to match that flavour. Surely the recipe must fetch money if they are closing.Please let me know who's bought it so that I can get some more!!
quote

Report this post »

Marilyn Churchill, Fareham Hampshire says...
4:22pm Tue 23 Oct 07

My husband and I used to live in Bromley as children and were "weaned" on Kennedys sausages, even now we make regular trips from Hampshire just to ensure we have them in the freezer no others come close for taste and Christmas won't be the same without Kennedys sausage meat stuffing Please do something to keep them going

Report this post »

A Gower, says...
8:19am Sun 28 Oct 07

I've set up this Facebook group "petition" to save Kennedy's. You never know...

http://www.facebook.
com/group.php?gid=19
286798576

Report this post »

Paul Kennedy, Canterbury says...
3:49pm Mon 29 Oct 07

This is dreadful news - I have tasted award winning sausages from across the UK, but nothing comes close to Kennedy sausages. I'm genuinely upset - I only went on this website to see if I could find out if the shop is open on Tuesdays as I'm planning on driving up there tomorrow to stock up. What a shock!

Report this post »

Jim Latter, London says...
9:14am Tue 30 Oct 07

My Mum and Dad, Larry & Lily Latter, both worked at Kennedys in Peckham for many years. Dad out the back and Mum in the shop. Kennedys had a generous and enlightened attitude towards their staff, including a holiday house on the Isle of Wight which Mum, Dad, my sister and I went to every year. I visited them at work many times. Did you know they had a 'Herb and Spices Man'? At least, that's what I called him. He sat in a booth mixing up the required mixtures for each batch of sausages, pies, whatever. We always had the best meat on the table during the week, but Sundays was the big treat. Sausages swimming in tomato gravy!
May the memory of Kennedys live on (but I'd prefer it if the sausages did too.....)

Report this post »

kaz, says...
7:27pm Tue 30 Oct 07

I now live in Sussex and was brought up on Kennedy's sausages.My family have been buying these sausages for at least FOUR generations.My teenage children have been brought up on these sausages and REFUSE,point blank,to eat any other type of sausage.

Report this post »

Sausage King, UK says...
7:49am Sat 10 Nov 07

Does anyone have any news on the idea that they might do mail order? We can help them promote this or even advise on the set up if it would help.

Or if not I might know some butchers who are interested in the recipe...

Thanks

Stephen
Sausagefans.com

Report this post »

Chris, Orpington says...
11:55am Tue 13 Nov 07

I cant believe my kids are gonna miss out on kennedys sausages. As if January isn't depressing enough without having to visit the xmas sales in Bromley with not only one empty Kennedys but 2!!

Report this post »

John Regan, Bexleyheath says...
8:10pm Fri 16 Nov 07

How sad. My father bought Kennedy's sausages over 80 years ago and I have continued to do so. I have asked in the past if they would do mail order or internet, but they did not appear to have the knowledge of how to market themselves. A well know Pork Pie maker in Melton Mowbray successfully did go mail order and supply Waitrose after I suggested they could reach a wider market. I do hope Kennedy's live on with someone making their incomparable sausages.

Report this post »

Julia Thompson, Lewisham says...
10:05am Fri 23 Nov 07

Lived in Dog Kennel hill, we would take the bus to Camberwell green to buy our Meat in Edwards another old family business which closed years ago just around the corner was Kennedys we loved their sausages and fruit pies, an old school mate from Doggie has managed the Depford shop for many years Deptford high st wont be the same with out Billy, a cousin of mine used to travel by train from Victoria with his late wife to the Bromley shop for his supplies, how very sad all things must come to an end and I guess the the closing of kennedys is the end of an Era will be sadly missed, so get your supplies and kennedys can live on for a bit longer through our freezer but a lasting memory in our hearts and mind. best wishes to the owners and staff and a very big thanks for sausages and pies unbeatable and untouchable like Marilyn Munroe & Micheal Jackson many have tried but none have come even close.Three cheers for Kennedys.

Report this post »

Bill Sennett, Cobham says...
5:57pm Sun 25 Nov 07

We've been travelling to Croydon to bulk-buy sausages and sausagemeat for over 30 years and have lways dreaded arriving and finding Kennedy's gone. What are we going to do for Xmas stuffing, not to mention the only sausages worth eating. I do hope some way to keep going is being explored. Could not some cheaper area be found? We'd still beat a path to their door.

Report this post »

Mick Norman, Meopham, Kent says...
1:59pm Tue 27 Nov 07

Like others who have posted here I will be desperately sad to see these shops disappear. According to staff at one branch (which I won't name) the owner refuses to sell the business as a going concern or pass on/ sell his recipe for pork sausages. Does he have a grudge against his customers, who have supported him and his family all these years?

Report this post »

pat walton, whitstable,kent says...
6:50pm Tue 27 Nov 07

I was raised on Kennedys sausages, I just cannot believe they are closing down. Why not keep a couple of shops open?? I have tried zillions of sausages and none beat Kennedys, its the spicy herby taste, cant marks and spencer take over??? crikey we are all going to get withdrawal systems, please please dont shut down, or give me the recipe if you dont want it and will make my own,pat

Report this post »

Rose Marie, says...
9:06pm Fri 30 Nov 07

I'm devastated. I live in Solihull and can't get down to Croydon to get a supply of sausages before Kennedy's closure. Bangers and mash will never be the same. Can't someone still make them so that we can order on-line? From Rose Marie

Report this post »

Christine Lawrence, Norfolk says...
10:56am Sun 2 Dec 07

I have just logged on to see if anything has been written about the awful news of the Kennedy's closure. We have moved to Norfolk and none of our visitors are not allowed through our door unless they produce a couple of pounds of Kennedy sausages. We have tried all the local ones - and the not so local - but nothing compares to a Kennedy sausage. I had heard that Morrisons supermarket have offered to market Kennedy's sausags, under the original name, but I understand they were turned down. WHY?

CL

Report this post »

Mandy Holloway, South bedfordshire says...
3:25pm Fri 7 Dec 07

Oh NO! I've adored their saveloys all my life and I'm really upset that they are closing down. will the Bromeley branch stay open. It's a wonderful shop and I hope this is not the end.

Report this post »

EX P.C. 740P 9 HIGH STREET WEST WICHHAM, IDEN GREEN BENENDEN CRANBROOK KENT says...
6:26pm Mon 10 Dec 07

SOMEONES GOING TO GET NICKED HERE. THEY ALL TRY, AND FAIL TO COME UP WITH THE PERFECT SAUSAGE .OPEN A SHOP HERE OR I"LL COME AND GET AND DISTRIBUTE THEM.YOU...BY THE WAY HAVE HAD SOME GREAT STAFF AT WEST WICKHAM. BY THE WAY I RETIRED 1988 AND IT COSTS ME £20 A MONTH TO VISIT YOU. GIVE US A BREAK GUV. MIKE EX P.C.740P ALL THE BEST STAY LUCKEY

Report this post »

john, newport pagnell says...
9:11pm Tue 18 Dec 07

I have enjoyed Kennedy's sausages for over 50 years. They ARE the best in the world - no arguments. I am devastated that these wonderful shops are to close. My mum (now 80) still catches the bus into Bromley just to buy her sausages. We must this last bastion of English porkness - but how?

Report this post »

tony hagan, streatham says...
3:07pm Wed 19 Dec 07

I have been eating Kennedy's for over 40 years. I can't believe they cannot sell them, put them on the internet or pursuade a large supermarket to stock them. They are by far the best all others have no comparison. I have been trying organic farmers market sausages, while nice, still not as good. I may never eat a sausage again. I bought £20 worth last week and will do so again next week before they close. Can't store anymore thant that. SOS

Report this post »

Emma, Sidcup says...
11:23am Sun 23 Dec 07

I am so upset by the clousure of Kennedys! Since I have found out the news I have been everywhere to try to find a replacement but to no avail. I just can't believe they won't sell the recipe to anyone-what does it matter to them if they don't want to stay open anyway? Come on Kennedys-SELL THE RECIPE!

Report this post »

Henry, Streatham says...
4:03pm Sun 23 Dec 07

I used to shop at a Kennedys in Streatham, which closed in 1999. They sold the BEST Cornish pasties and sausage rolls I've ever eaten. I have yet to find any other shop-bought pasties and rolls that are comparable. **** you, Tesco Metro and Sainsbury Local!

Report this post »

Maxine Mackie, Whitstable Kent says...
12:34pm Thu 27 Dec 07

Some Kennedys sausages were brought as a gift for my parents. My dad lost his eyesight this year so other senses are all the more important now and taste and touch are two of those very much needed for him.
He loved these sausages and will be devastated that he can no longer get them brought to him.

Report this post »

Alan Edwards, Caterham, Surrey says...
1:32pm Fri 4 Jan 08

Kennedy's West Wickham shop featured on Channel 4's Three Minute Wonder mini documentary on Boxing Day, it showed the staff and views inside the shop, there were close-up shots of some Kennedy's Sausages !!
I shall miss their excellent Pork Pies.
This year there were no Christmas Puddings, they always came in old fashoined Crockery Pudding Basins, we have still got the empty basin in our kitchen cupboard from last year's pudding.

Report this post »

Alan Brown, Northampton says...
2:53pm Tue 8 Jan 08

Yesterday 7th January was a sad day in our household. For lunch I ate the last of my Kennedys Saveloys. Managed to stretch it to one and a half sandwichs by removing crusts! For dinner grilled pork chipolatas. The good news is 3 chipos left just enough for that final Kennedys Chipo Sandwich. Kennedys, you will be missed; In fact you are missed already.
quote


Report this post »

Alan Edwards, Caterham, Surrey says...
10:26pm Tue 15 Jan 08

KENNEDY'S TRIBUTE WEBSITE
I have produced a tribute website that shows loads of information and photos of Kennedy's Shops, Sausages, Pies, Delivery Van, Shop fittings and even photos of our final fry-up of Kennedy's Pork Sausages. It is available for viewing at this URL
http://website.lineo
ne.net/~alan.c.edwar
ds/kennedystribute.h
tml
I hope you enjoy some Kennedy's nostalgia.
Ciao, Alan Edwards

Report this post »

colin, SE2 says...
2:35pm Mon 28 Jan 08

Just today, out of interest, I did a Google search for Kennedy's sausages. I was devastated to read that they closed down in Dec 2007! My parents and I used the one in Woolwich until that closed. Then Bromley's two branches kept us supplied with the occasional foray to Croydon. I thought the Bromley South shop was crowded on 04 Dec when I went in... Whenever my dad or I buy a newly discovered brand the comment is always the same - "Not as good as Kennedy's!"

Report this post »

Comments are closed on this article.

Save our Sausages: Kennedy's loyal customers have issed an SOS call Save our Sausages: Kennedy's loyal customers have issed an SOS call

In this section

Sponsored Links



Local Links


Local Information

Enter your postcode, town or place name

House prices »   Schools »   Crime »   Hospitals »