AN INDEPENDENT catering butchers that is one of the largest in the south has celebrated 20 years of trading.

County Foods, based in Poole, was started by managing director Doron Krips in 2004 with a team of just five people in an office in Upton Industrial Estate.

Doron first became interested in catering when he was a teenager, working in his father’s butchery wholesale business.

Now, the business is based at the Fleets Industrial Estate and employs more than 80 people.

It specialises in supplying meat products, as well as delicatessen, frozen and dry goods to customers across Dorset and Hampshire.

Doron said the business’s 20 years operating has not been without its challenges as changes in the restaurant industry have changed how they supply their customers.

“When we first started a restaurant would generally offer a simple menu with limited options,” he said. “Nowadays menus have diversified so much and provide cuisines from all over the world. Part of what makes us unique is that we pay attention to our customer’s individual requirements and prepare the cuts of the meat to their exact specifications.”

One customer of the business is The Black Swan in Swanage.

Owner Eric Olinet said: “We’ve been using County Foods as a supplier for 16 years and they’ve always given us an excellent service, good prices and quality meat.

“They know the hospitality industry inside out and work with us to give a tailor-made service. It’s like a family there, and they always take the time to understand what we need as a business.”

As the business celebrates this milestone, it has launched its new County Select premium range, as it expands its offering.

This new range will include building a large dry-aging room where 28-day dry-aged beef will be prepared.

Also to mark the anniversary, the business has produced a new premium brisket burger for the BBQ season.

For more information on the business, and for updates on when the new products will be available, visit its social media or its website.