About Us
At Lashfords we have operated through two world wars, 30 prime ministers and five monarchs yet one thing has remained unchanged - our passion and commitment to the industry.
At the core of the business is the customer and providing top quality produce proud to be served on the plate for any occasion.
Our passion and drive derives from decades of experience and we would love to share our full story and our motivation with you.
From Farm to Factory
The family business started back in 1889 when Albert and William Lashford, my Great Great grandfather, decided to change from farming and set up his first butcher’s shop in Kings Heath, Birmingham.
Having been farmers in the local area themselves, he knew exactly how good the local meat was and he wanted to share his skills with the growing urban population.
Combining this great knowledge with high skilled butchery resulting in a winning approach that we’ve continued to this day.
However it was during the inter-war years where AW Lashford ventured into making a produce much loved to this day - Faggots.
In 1939, John Lashford (My Grandad) only eight years of age worked with his Mother Grace to create the secret family recipe still in operation today.
In the following year the Royal Sausage was born - deriving from the Royal Wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer. This proved so popular John sent some to Buckingham Palace himelf! We were reliably informed the product was well received.
Success swiflty followed and the Birmingham Post in 1994 described Lashfords as 'The Sausage Capital of the Midlands'.
In 1916, Alfred Lashford (Pictured on the right of the left image), my great Grandfather joined the company to assist with increasing demand of top quality produce during the First World War.
At this time a pound of our finest only cost four old pence!
In the post war years, John began to explore the sausage market producing a wider and more experimental type of sausage and moved from the birthplace of the business in Kings Heath to Knowle in 1965.
My Dad, Stephen Lashford - now the 4th Generation of the family joined at Knowle and pushed for the awards.
In 1980 when we entered our first competition we won first, second and fourth in the Birmingham District competition.
After years as a high street butcher my dad Steve and mum Gina decided to take AW Lashford down a different route - supplying to the industry. It was driven by the high demand selling to pubs, stores, hotel and restaurants.
Since, the fifth generation of Lashfords, I (Left) and my brother (Craig) have worked through School, College and University and the picture on the left carrying faggots just like our Great Grandmother created outlines the strong history in the product.
The tradition well and truly continues.