Hurrens Butchers, a long-established Stevenage butcher that has served the local community for more than 50 years, has secured a £500,000 funding facility from specialist SME lender Praetura to capitalise on increasing demand.
Founded in 1973, Hurrens has built its reputation on traditional butchery and personalised customer service. Over the decades, the business has become a trusted name for generations of local families, while also growing into a respected catering butcher supplying dozens of restaurants, businesses, schools and care homes across the South and Midlands.
Now, under new leadership, the business is aiming to build on Hurrens’ heritage and accelerate the growth of its catering and wholesale operation, forecasting a 20% increase in sales this year.
Its plans include winning more group contracts and supplying additional customer sites across the care, education, hospitality and healthcare sectors. Hurrens is also investing in its delivery efficiency and systems, while exploring opportunities to broaden its product range for customers.
Praetura’s £500,000 facility will provide additional working capital headroom, empowering the business to pursue new customer sites without placing pressure on day-to-day cashflow.
It comes after Nicole Street, Wayne Gallant and Gareth Street bought Hurrens in March 2026, bringing experience from across finance, food supply, operations, sales and business growth.
Nicole, who is responsible for the business’ financials, approached Praetura directly, having previously worked with the lender in her role as Chief Financial Officer at organic and natural dried food supplier Community Foods. Alongside Nicole’s experience at running a growing business, Wayne oversees operations and growth strategy, while Gareth leads the day-to-day running of the butchery operation, including quality, production, pricing and supplier relationships.
Nicole Street, Finance Director at Hurrens Butchers, said: “Hurrens is a business with a proud history and a reputation that has been built over more than five decades. That heritage is a huge part of what makes the business special, and it’s something we’ll protect as we take it into its next chapter.
“There’s a clear opportunity to grow the catering side of the business, supplying more restaurants, schools, care homes and businesses with the same quality and service that Hurrens is known for. Praetura’s support gives us the working capital flexibility to manage that growth properly and invest in the future of the business.”
Jeff Greenfield, Sales Director at Praetura Lending, said: “We’re proud to support Hurrens at this key juncture in its expansion. All the building blocks are there: it has an established name and a loyal customer base, which are only set to strengthen under this new ownership team.
“Butchers and food suppliers like Hurrens play a crucial role in the operations of the businesses that buy from them. Hurrens’ clients, including essential providers in the healthcare and childcare sectors, rely on the provision of good-quality meat to keep them moving. We’re proud to support a business like this as it scales up to meet growing customer demand.
Hurrens works with customers and partners including E-Foods, NCB Foodservice, Trilogy Foodservice and Bon Appetit.
ABL Risk supported with the survey.
