Buyer sought for family food business

A 125-year-old family food business is up for sale, with trademark recipes and staff being included in the deal.

The Cook Shop in Old Hill, near Halesowen in West Midlands, closed on 30 August. The current owner Nigel Brazier, who is the fourth generation of his family to hold the reins of the business, says that the premises are up for sale for £90,000.

The business, which sells meat as well as various cooked goods such as pork pies and sausage rolls, was put on the market in June but a buyer could not be found and The Cook Shop was forced to close its doors. On top of the building, Mr Brazier is including his family’s Black Country recipes for faggots, Groaty Dick, bread pudding and the shop's trademark sage and onion stuffing.

Speaking to the BBC, Mr Brazier said: "No-one, and I mean no-one, has shown an interest in buying the shop and so I am letting the staff leave with their redundancy.

"The lack of interest in buying a successful business after so much media coverage has been dreadfully disappointing, but it must be a sign of the times.”

After the closure of The Cook Shop, Julie Webb, Labour councillor for Cradley Heath and Old Hill ward, said: "It's the end of an era… It's always had such a personal service. It will be sorely missed."

A sale for the business is still being sought.