Can Britain’s butchers survive the vegan boom?

Beleaguered by the rise of meat-free lifestyles and the decline of the high street, some in the trade are fighting backWhat a time to be a butcher. With Veganuary in full swing and scientists delivering an onslaught of post-Christmas advice about the perils of meat eating, butchers are under pressure from all sides, caught in the cleft of consumer demands for better quality food at ever cheaper prices.Take Robert Byford. A year ago, his shop in Leigh-on-Sea, Essex, was one of four serving a popu