Latest news with #Hopkinson
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.
Yahoo
27-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Racers explore Cooper's Rock for 50km and Half Marathon Trail Race
BRUCETON MILLS, (WBOY) — Saturday was the Coopers Rock 50 Km and Half Marathon Trail Race, which saw several runners reach the finish line at the Coopers Rock overlook. The race is put on to help people get to know the park and to raise money for the Coopers Rock Foundation, which helps maintain trails and host free community events such as Winterfest and Celebration of the Outdoors. Land adjacent to New River Gorge National Park for sale Race Director David Hopkinson told 12 News the 50K course actually covered every single trail on the south side of Coopers Rock State Forest, and that he has exciting plans in store for next year's race, which will be the 10th anniversary of the event. We're going to start this at night,' Hopkinson said. 'And everybody will run through the dark. The forest is a different place at night than it is during the day.' A total of 166 people ran in this years race. Each of them got a hat and a shirt in addition to the scenic run. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Guardian
16-03-2025
- Business
- The Guardian
Industrial evolution: a designer breathes new life into an old London warehouse
In the late 18th century, London was one of the busiest ports in the world, the docks in the east bustling with clippers, sailors and porters unloading tea, tobacco, rice, fruit, sugar and wine. It meant that industrial warehouses were thrown up along the banks of the Thames for much-needed storage. Almost two centuries later, only a handful of those Victorian storehouses survive, but those that do have been regenerated, inspired by the renovation of New York's loft apartments in the 1980s. The Guardian's journalism is independent. We will earn a commission if you buy something through an affiliate link. Learn more. For South African interior designer Veronique Hopkinson, a historical home – specifically, a warehouse in London – was always on the bucket list. Her riverside apartment in a Grade II-listed warehouse is in Wapping with a balcony that overlooks the Thames. The busy city river traffic includes raucous party cruisers, dredgers and navy patrol boats. When the tide drifts out, revealing the bones of the city below the waterline, hawk-eyed mudlarkers start sifting. 'I love unique properties,' says Hopkinson. 'And I loved the apartment's exposed ceiling and brick walls – it's all part of its identity.' Industrial remnants of the old pulley system adds depth and character to the building, setting the scene for her choice of chunky, industrial furniture, contemporary artworks and dimensional lighting. Hopkinson started by stripping out all the rooms inside the two-storey apartment to create a vast open-plan living, dining and kitchen space. Her husband, Bradley, is a keen cook, regularly whipping up sourdough or sushi, and often nips down to Borough market to pick up cream to churn into butter (she applied for him to do MasterChef but he was too busy), so the kitchen is a central feature. 'I designed a massive island, 3m long, and arranged stools alongside it so that we could sit and chat while he cooks,' says Hopkinson. Made from steel, the bespoke island fits into her industrial-interiors vibe, alongside the steel units, concrete splashback, statement lighting from Andrew Martin, and their vast American two-door fridge, which had to be winched up to the balcony to get in. To the left of the kitchen is a small, hidden scullery, which boasts two dishwashers. 'I am big into storage,' says Hopkinson, describing her plan to reconfigure the entrance and stairs to create more space and cupboards. She has also installed a home office, cleverly divided off from the main living space using internal Crittall glass panels, which were custom-made to reflect the original Victorian window frames and invite natural light. Studying graphic design and running her own advertising agency, Hopkinson compares her later career in interiors to working on an ad campaign. 'You choose the visual references, consider the target audience and stick to the budget and deadline, it is very similar.' The living room is broken up with an Andrew Martin rug, brown leather sofas from Seattle, a pair of Timothy Oulton sheepskin armchairs and a large Oulton sculptural pendant above. Describing her style as 'functional and authentic', Hopkinson says lighting is key to creating comfort in an industrial environment. 'You have to be careful with brick and wood, but lighting adds ambience.' Antique signs from Etsy, an old juke box, a leather punch bag from Notting Hill market and wooden sculptures and masks from the couple's native South Africa decorate their home, which they share with their two daughters, who are at university, and two pet dogs. Colourful artworks embellish the yellow London stock brick walls, along with the uncovered wooden beams held up by their original metal columns, now repainted black again. The dining room enjoys a bolt of red and blue from a large canvas by Ukrainian pop artist Mykola Kuryliuk. Other walls are embellished with metal shelving and a wine rack made from a stack of metal boxes. Above the generous wooden dining table and benches, which were shipped from South Africa, floats a tubular turbine light by Timothy Oulton. Upstairs in the master bedroom, a wooden African war mask demands attention above an antique wooden bench from Cotswold Grey. The bed, with its aircraft-inspired metal frame, is softened with an OKA rug and cushions, and a textural backdrop of Arte wallpaper. Out on the balcony, a set of Ikea chairs contemplates the gentle but steady pace of the longest river in England, as it flows past. 'Wapping is a great neighbourhood. With its local butcher and shops it's like a little village, and walking the dogs I get to know people,' smiles Hopkinson. 'And the lights in Canary Wharf are so pretty at night.'
Yahoo
14-03-2025
- Yahoo
Ex-police officers charged with child sex offences
Two retired police officers have been charged with child sex offences dating back to the 1990s. West Yorkshire Police said two of its former officers each faced charges of rape and indecent assault against a girl aged under 16, with the alleged offences committed between 1992 and 1995. William Baker, 78, of Hayle in Cornwall, and Ian Hopkinson, 63, of Redcar in Cleveland, would face Leeds Magistrates' Court on 7 May, the force said. The pair were arrested in June 2024 after a woman came forward the previous year to report the offences which were alleged to have taken place in West Yorkshire while they were serving officers. Both men were working at the time in the Mounted Section, then based in Pontefract, where Mr Baker held the rank of sergeant and Mr Hopkinson was a constable, the force said. Mr Baker is charged with three counts of indecent assault on a girl under the age of 16 years and two counts of rape of a female under 16 years. Mr Hopkinson is charged with five counts of indecent assault on a girl under the age of 16 years and five counts of rape of a female under 16 years. A third former West Yorkshire Police officer was also arrested over the allegations, but has since died, with the force adding that "it was determined there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding his death". Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North. West Yorkshire Police
BBC News
14-03-2025
- BBC News
Retired West Yorkshire Police officers charged with child sex offences
Two retired police officers have been charged with child sex offences dating back to the Yorkshire Police said two of its former officers each faced charges of rape and indecent assault against a girl aged under 16, with the alleged offences committed between 1992 and Baker, 78, of Hayle in Cornwall, and Ian Hopkinson, 63, of Redcar in Cleveland, would face Leeds Magistrates' Court on 7 May, the force pair were arrested in June 2024 after a woman came forward the previous year to report the offences which were alleged to have taken place in West Yorkshire while they were serving officers. Both men were working at the time in the Mounted Section, then based in Pontefract, where Mr Baker held the rank of sergeant and Mr Hopkinson was a constable, the force Baker is charged with three counts of indecent assault on a girl under the age of 16 years and two counts of rape of a female under 16 Hopkinson is charged with five counts of indecent assault on a girl under the age of 16 years and five counts of rape of a female under 16 years.A third former West Yorkshire Police officer was also arrested over the allegations, but has since died, with the force adding that "it was determined there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding his death". Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
