There’s a new meat delivery service coming to Manchester this week that’s being described as a sustainable way to eat, a better way to cook and an easier way to support local farmers.
MeatCo is the region’s newest ethical delivery service born out of lockdown and a love for cooking.
The service will be completely unique as, rather than just offering the most popular cuts of meat, it will encourage the use of more unusual cuts available from local suppliers. As well as the delivery service, the team at MeatCo will also teach its customers to cook each new cut too, with monthly recipes provided to introduce customers to a new sustainable way of eating.
Instead of the customers picking and choosing the product for each box, each delivery will contain a variety of the very best selection of meat on offer from local farms and the contents will change throughout the year in a bid to reduce waste and encourage a more sustainable way to eat.
Currently in Britain, 26% of meat is imported to keep up with demand of more popular cuts, such as sirloin or fillet, with 27% of British meat being exported to other countries as Brits simply don’t want it. This leads to hundreds of thousands of unnecessary food miles each year and results in massive negative environmental effects. Demand for specific cuts of meat has also opened up the UK market to imports from countries with lower animal welfare standards and high intensity farming practices.
As local farms are then forced to compete with these lower standards, many local farmers are struggling to make a living.
MeatCo’s way of supplying readily available produce will not only help to reduce waste at local farms, but also help local suppliers thrive.
The company is headed by two women from Manchester who are passionate about eating ethically, supporting local farmers and educating meat lovers about why it’s so important to do so.
Speaking on why they chose to launch the service, MeatCo said: “Lockdown has had a huge knock on effect on many things. Restaurants have been closed, and small local farmers lost a lot of business and were struggling.
“Essential shopping rules meant that deliver to your door options were more popular than ever, and spending more time at home has given people time to cook. We saw a lot of disastrous dishes on instagram and thought it was probably time to give a little helping hand whilst doing our best to support small and be as ethical as possible.
This new delivery service will be launching soon with delivery available right across Greater Manchester.
Fancy signing up for the Manchester pilot service now?
You can do so via the MeatCo website here, and you can also follow MeatCo on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for all the latest updates.
News
Bob Vylan dropped from Manchester music festival following Glastonbury controversy
Danny Jones
English punk rap duo Bob Vylan have been dropped from an upcoming music festival in Manchester following the recent controversy surrounding their set at Glastonbury 2025.
The media storm surrounding their much-talked-about and heavily televised Glasto appearance has seen them reportedly dropped by their agency and their US Visas cancelled, along with multiple concerts – one of those being right here in Greater Manchester.
Bob Vylan were scheduled to play RADAR Fest at Victoria Warehouse in Stretford this weekend, but now the organisers have informed gig-goers that the artists will not be performing in their planned slot on Saturday.
The alternative music event did provide any additional details, posting nothing but this image:
For anyone unaware, Vylan were heavily criticised for the pro-Palestine chants, which Glastonbury itself has deemed as having “crossed a line”, labelling the chants against the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) as antisemitic.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has also commented on the situation.
In addition to RADAR, Vylan were also due to appear at Kave Fest in France the following Sunday, 6 July, but the music event has also decided not to host them.
The BBC also opted not to broadcast Northern Irish band Kneecap as part of their coverage this year, as the Belfast rap trio have also been outspoken on the issue, among many other musicians of late.
Responding to the decision on social media not long after the news broke, the act simply shared the post on their Instagram story along with the caption: “Silence is not an option. We will be fine, the people of Palestine are hurting. Manchester, we will be back.”
Trafford Centre launches school uniform drive to help disadvantaged Manchester families
Emily Sergeant
A school uniform drive has been launched at the Trafford Centre to support local families ahead of the new school year.
With schools across Greater Manchester soon set to be out for the summer holidays, many parents, guardians, and carers in the region may be looking ahead to the new school year in September, concerned about how they may be able to provide their children with the necessary uniform items needed.
According to a 2020 survey by The Children’s Society, 23% of parents reported that the cost of school uniforms led to their children wearing ‘ill-fitting, unclean, or incorrect’ items.
It’s these statistic that highlight the ongoing pressure faced by families.
This is why the Trafford Centre has partnered with both Manchester South Central Foodbank and local charity, Bridging the Gap, to launch a school uniform donation drive aimed at supporting more than 700 children across Manchester this summer.
The Trafford Centre launches a school uniform drive to help disadvantaged Manchester families / Credit: Trafford Centre
From now up until the 15 August, anyone heading to the region’s largest shopping centre is encouraged to donate new or pre-loved school uniforms.
“The cost of living crisis has deeply impacted our community, with more and more families unable to afford the essentials,” commented Emily Jeremy, who is the Assistant Project Manager at Manchester South Central Foodbank.
“As an anti-poverty charity, we recognised the need for school uniform support years ago. Though costs vary between schools, a full set of branded secondary school uniform can total around £150, which is a significant burden for many households.”
All items can be donated at the shopping centre’s Guest Services point / Credit: Darren Robinson Photography | Trafford Centre (Supplied)
Simon Layton, Centre Director at the Trafford Centre, added: “We’re proud to be working alongside Bridging the Gap and Manchester South Central Foodbank to support local families during these challenging times.
“School uniforms shouldn’t be a barrier to education, and we hope this initiative will ease some of the pressure many parents face as the new school year approaches.”
The school uniform donation drive is running up until 15 August.
All items can be taken to the Trafford Centre’s Guest Services Lounge, which is located on Lower Regent Crescent next to M&S, and they must be clean and free from stains or damage.
Emily Sergeant -
26th August 2020 
