Latest news with #AllThingsButter
Entrepreneur
26-05-2025
- Business
- Entrepreneur
Butter, Boldness, and British Farming
Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own. You're reading Entrepreneur United Kingdom, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media. All Things Butter - with its Instagram-rooted origins, chef-crafted recipes, and striking packaging - was born not just out of passion, but from a pointed dissatisfaction with the supermarket shelves. "Our initial inspiration for the business was born from the lack of innovation we were seeing on supermarket shelves and in the dairy industry," Hopkinson explains. "We wanted to launch a brand that appealed more to a modern consumer versus everything else that was currently in the market." That discontent turned into disruption. The duo wasn't content with simply offering unsalted and salted varieties; they dove headfirst into flavour. "Within the mass market, we were one of the only brands to innovate and experiment with different flavoured butters when we first launched," he says. "Now we see that other brands are starting to jump on board - for example, Tesco has just launched their own flavoured butter range." But while competitors are catching up, All Things Butter keeps charging ahead. "Last year we released our first sweet butter - the delicious Cinnamon Bun flavour - which was the first sweet-flavoured butter on the market and then launched the category's first chocolate butter." Their innovations aren't limited to flavour. Hopkinson is acutely aware of the industry they're operating in - one with systemic challenges, especially for those at the start of the supply chain. "We also saw the opportunity to shake up the dairy industry - not only to bring innovative flavours to consumers but to support British farmers," he says. "All Things Butter donates 1% of its revenue to RABI to support the farming sector with financial, emotional and practical help." It's a point of pride that goes beyond optics. "Farming is one of the toughest professions, and it is a particularly tough time in history for the industry... All Things Butter wants to form deeper relationships with the community and support the incredible industry at a time when they truly need it." That commitment didn't come easily. Finding a farming partner willing to back the vision of two Londoners with a dream of a butter brand was, at times, a humbling process. "There are quite a few funny stories about when Thomas and I were trying to sell the dream of two chaps from London wanting to sell our butter business to multi-generational farms... we got laughed out of the majority of those rooms." Fortunately, Brue Valley, one of the oldest dairy farms in Britain, saw past the branding and city polish. "They truly believed in what we were trying to do and saw that we really wanted to add value to a category that has essentially lacked innovation for many years." Hopkinson is honest about their early missteps. "I think the lesson we learned from this was perhaps we were a bit too bullish in our approach to the farmers… I've learnt that we needed to be a bit more adaptable rather than coming in with a quite modern approach from the get-go." More recently, All Things Butter - like the entire dairy industry - faced a new kind of test. "Another more recent challenge... was the commodity price of cream skyrocketed due to a shortage of milk from cows," he says. Thanks to Brue Valley, "we were well-placed to deal with this challenge and continue to provide our customers with organic, British butter." But it has taken creative problem-solving and operational adjustments to navigate the crisis. "We had to come up with innovative ways to maximise efficiency within the supply chain and mitigate that risk." The broader economic landscape is also shaping their strategy. "With rising inflation and a persistent cost of living crisis, we've had to be extremely mindful of how we price and position our products," Hopkinson says. "Consumers are feeling the pinch... We're planning to launch a more cost-effective product line later this year that delivers the same commitment to quality, just at a more accessible price point." Still, the brand remains as trendsetting as ever. "We don't want to just follow trends in the food and beverage industry - we want to create them!" Hopkinson declares. Being born on social media - where the brand first took off through Straker's butter-focused videos - gives All Things Butter a powerful edge. "Our social channels provide us with a direct route to our customers and their feedback… This helps guide us when considering new product developments and helps us stay ahead of the curve." So what would Hopkinson tell those considering their own leap into the entrepreneurial unknown? "Startups need a great idea, the right timing, the right skills, and a fair bit of luck," he says with characteristic candour. "There are so many talented startups that... don't succeed due to factors beyond their control." Yet, belief matters. "We turned our idea into a reality through having confidence in the idea... This confidence in the concept is what really enabled me to use my evenings, weekends and holidays to go out and put money where our mouth is." And the most critical skill? Knowing when to leap. "As an entrepreneur, you have to be able to pull the trigger on some ideas and not just say yes to everything." In a market slow to change, All Things Butter has proved that even something as everyday as a pat of butter can be a vehicle for innovation, connection, and - just maybe - revolution.
North Wales Live
18-05-2025
- General
- North Wales Live
I tried seven brands of salted butter and the difference was a major surprise
In my opinion, there's nothing quite like the simple joy of bread and butter. So, when I was given the opportunity to try seven different types of salted butter, I leapt at the chance. Little did I know that this seemingly simple taste test would push me to the limits of human endurance, writes Vita Molyneux. Until you've tasted seven distinct butters in a mere 30 minutes, you can't truly understand what the body is capable of. By mid way, I was struggling. Maybe I was being too generous with my spreading, or perhaps it was the 23-degree heat in my bedroom, but I did not feel great. I stared down at three more butters feeling my arteries beginning to clog. My head was spinning and I needed a drink of water and a lie down. I needed a piece of fresh fruit, I needed a hug. Instead I took a deep breath, reminded myself that this is my job and I'm extremely lucky to have it, and cracked on. By the end, I believe I had transcended. But the results were in and I have declared a winner - and a loser. All the butters were left out on my counter for an hour to achieve the perfect spreadability, reports the Express. The seven salted butters I sampled were: All Things Butter, Lurpak Slightly Salted, Kerrygold, Anchor, Tesco own brand, Aldi Cowbelle and Lidl Dairy Manor. Lurpak This is a classic. It's my usual purchase, but I must confess, I rarely indulge in just bread and butter, so I most often use it in cooking. I had high expectations but, to be honest, Lurpak left me somewhat disappointed. It tasted a bit oilier than I anticipated, and the salt was more subtle than I prefer. However, the texture and spreadability were good. Overall, Lurpak scores OK. Rating: 6/10. All Things Butter The colour of this was a stunning rich yellow. When I sliced off the piece I was going to taste I was taken aback by its crumbly texture. However, after softening, the butter was rich, creamy and indulgent with the perfect level of salt. This butter tasted like luxury, and I loved it! Rating: 9/10. Aldi Cowbelle This one had the best spreadability so far - it went on the bread perfectly and was the saltiest of the bunch. There was an aftertaste of the sea, but I like the sea, so that's fine. It had a rich, golden colour, and almost had a hint of garlic about it (although that could be the chopping board). Really lovely. Rating: 8/10. Kerrygold The spreadability was a little poor, but it didn't tear the bread, which is always a good sign. It had the most gorgeous colour of all the butters, a stunning yellowish gold - I suppose it's in the name. However, it wasn't very salty at all, and the texture was pretty nondescript. Overall, OK. Rating: 6/10. Lidl Dairy Manor This butter was nearly white, and quite salty, with a slightly bitter aftertaste. It had top-notch spreadability and I favour the saltier ones, so this gets an extra point. Rating: 7/10. Tesco Tesco's own brand was a real let down. It was overly oily and lacked flavour with no real salty tang. Despite its spreadability and appealing colour, I can only award Tesco a modest score. Rating: 4/10. Anchor The final hurdle! The end was in sight. This butter had a pleasing texture and was rich and creamy, although not as salty as I might prefer - instead it had that peculiar garlic undertone like the Aldi butter. But again, that could very well have been my wooden chopping board. It was satisfactory, but nothing exceptional, so it receives an in-between score. Rating: 5/10. Final thoughts All Things Butter clinched the title for the best butter, and sadly, Tesco's own brand needs to be cast aside. But overwhelmingly, I learned a crucial lesson - too much of a good thing is indeed a real phenomenon. The next time I'm offered such a decadent taste test, I am calling for reinforcements. sent twice daily to your inbox Look for places near you
