Best New Start-up Award in the Fenland Citizen Business Awards 2025 goes to newly launched March butcher’s shop

A family firm that was only launched seven months ago was a popular winner at the Fenland Citizen Business Awards 2025.

Smiths Butchers of 73 High Street, March, was named Best New Start-up by Ian Smith director of category sponsor Goldstar Metal Traders – a previous award winner and a nominee in the Business of the Year category this year.

Jack Smith, the business owner who was accompanied up on stage to collect the award by his partner, Nina, looked stunned to have been announced the winner to much applause from the 200-plus guests at Friday night’s awards ceremony at the Braza Club in March.

Jack opened the shop just seven months ago and pledged the award would be on display from Saturday morning.

The award recognises a business that has been a roaring success in its infancy and is looking strong and on track to prosper in the future.

Jack sold out of meat on his opening weekend in July and has been doing a roaring trade ever since.

The category was open to companies and businesses that have been going for up to three years. Jack beat off competition from fellow finalists Ben Harding Window Cleaning of Whittlesey and First Turn Media Ltd, of March, to scoop the accolade.

Jack said: “I can’t really believe it, it seems like a dream especially as we only opened seven months ago.

“I am just proud to have won. Opening the shop was fulfilling a promise I made to my dad (Ian), who always wanted to open a butcher’s in town.

“I’m sure he would have been really happy to see us win.

“To be honest we can’t believe we have won, it is amazing, and we are just really delighted – it means so much and I will definitely have the trophy on display in the shop for all the customers to see.”