Our History

Although there is evidence of a community of butchers buying livestock on London's Smithfield Market during the 1820's. It was not until growing urbanisation, the introduction of health acts in the 1850's, and completion and development of a 'new' Smithfield meat market during the 1860's and late 19th century. That documented evidence confirms 'monies being thrown into a hat' to form an association to represent London butchers, challenge regulators and 'greedy' railway companies continually increasing costs, threatening supplies of meat to the citizens of London.

On the eighth of June 1907 - seven butchers from the London Metropolitan area signed the Memorandum and Articles of Association to establish the Incorporated Society of London Meat Trades (ISLMT).

The ISLMT pledged to promote commerce - pass on information - and protect the commercial interests of its members.

Representation would be made to the regulatory authorities together with a commitment to support research into animal diseases 'compromising the supply of sound and wholesome meat' sold to the people of London.

And in true spirit of 19th century philanthropy there was also provision in the Articles of Association to promote charitable works for those in the trade 'falling on hard times’!

The ISLMT had 1100 members - an annual subscription for each shop of half a guinea (52.5p) - or one guinea (£1.05) for those receiving an issue of the Meat Trades Journal by post each week.

The President was Councillor John Lindsey who had a business in Putney High Street and the Treasurer was Mr Walter Brazil trading from premises in the Kings Road, Chelsea.

By special resolution on 6th January 1919 the ISLMT changed its name to the Union of London Retail Meat Traders Incorporated (ULRMT) - later becoming The London Retail Meat Traders Association Inc (LRMTA) - confirmed in the revised Articles of Association on the 30th December 1974.