In over 30 years as a business journalist I thought I had seen more or less everything; then I came across Lurgan-based John R Dowey & Son, a family run master butcher and delicatessen which, first opening its doors for business in 1936, offers not only traditional cuts of meat, but also innovative in-house products such as ready meals with sauces.

Indeed, this is a company full of surprises, perhaps one of the biggest being the shop itself. From the outside it looks like any “ordinary” retail outlet on the high street, but step inside and . . .well . . . let’s just say it has a striking similarity to Doctor Who’s Tardis — it’s bigger on the inside!

Let me qualify that statement. On walking through the door the customer see a 66ft display cabinet that boasts nearly 1000 mouth-watering products. Beyond that there is a further 20ft of multi-temperature display for pre-packed products. And “behind the scenes” the company prepares, cooks and packs a bewildering array of products, including over 35 different varieties of salad, which are freshly prepared daily (NOT brought in like most competitors). There’s a range of ready prepared meals too, again all created on-site: “stir fries”, for example, to fry or bake in the tin foil dish provided. Only the best chicken fillet and steak in a delicious sauce with added fresh vegetables.

This business is so diverse that I feel it’s important not to lose sight of the fact that it is also a master butchers, with its beef, for instance, reared in Northern Ireland and matured for at least three weeks. Farm quality assured, Doweys offer the best sirloins in town!

What’s more, the company separate its raw and cooked meats with individually trained staff for handling each. This reduces the risk from cross-contamination. This system is highly recommended and been praised by the Department of Health. All staff are qualified at a very minimum with Basic Food Hygiene too, with the majority having Intermediate Food Hygiene: John Dowey is qualified to Advanced Food Hygiene, setting an example for others to follow. Consequently, not only is the shopping experience enjoyable, it’s completely safe!

There’s more. Doweys is surely the only master butchers in the UK with a coffee shop that boasts its own blend of coffee! And if that wasn’t enough, sometimes there is live music inside or outside the shop, with local bands treating customers to ageless music while they choose their sausages . . .which naturally are award winners! Indeed, after picking up the UK Best Small Processor 2011 at the Meat and Poultry Processing Awards, it has again been nominated in 2012. Truth be told, its “trophy cabinet” would make Manchester United blink in disbelief!

Doweys really is an extraordinary business, offering the best products to what it claims are the best customers. In fact, just like Doctor Who, the story seems a little far-fetched when first heard, but it’s all absolutely true, and I encourage you to find out for yourself. Visit Doweys in the High Street in Lurgan, or if you’re not a local go to www.johnrdowey.co.uk. There’s always something going on in Doweys!