The summer holidays are an ideal time for butchers to test new products and flavours.
Customers are shopping for barbecues, family gatherings, relaxed evening meals and easy food for entertaining. They may also be more willing to step away from their usual weekly order and try something different.
That gives you an opportunity to experiment without completely changing your established range.
A small batch, weekend special or limited-edition flavour can show you what catches customers’ attention before you decide whether it deserves a regular place in the counter.
This summer, Leonards Ingredients has three products to help you get started: Tomato Sausage Mix, Teriyaki Burger Mix and Spanish Burger Mix. Tomato Sausage Mix is available in both Gourmet and Gluten Free varieties.
Why are the summer holidays a good time to test new products?
Summer changes the way many customers shop and eat.
Instead of planning only traditional family dinners, they may be looking for:
- Food for barbecues and garden gatherings
- Quick meals for busy holiday days
- Products that children and families will enjoy
- New flavours for entertaining
- Simple meal ideas that feel different from the usual routine
A seasonal special can meet that demand while giving your business useful feedback.
Which products sell quickly? Which ones receive repeat orders? What names and serving suggestions attract attention? The answers can help shape your future range.
Start with a familiar flavour: Tomato Sausage Mix
Trying something new does not always mean introducing an unfamiliar flavour.
Our Tomato Sausage Mix brings a recognisable tomato ketchup-style flavour to the sausage counter. Customers can quickly understand what to expect, making it easy for counter staff to describe and recommend.
It also gives you scope to have some fun with the name. Depending on your customers, you could sell it as:
The Tommy K, The 57 Varieties or simply Tomato Sausage.
The product could work particularly well as part of a family barbecue selection, a children-friendly range or a mixed sausage pack.
Tomato Sausage Mix is available in both Gourmet and Gluten Free varieties, giving you greater flexibility when developing your summer range.
Offer something different with Teriyaki Burger Mix
The holidays can also be a good opportunity to test a flavour customers might not choose during an ordinary weekly shop.
Teriyaki Burger Mix provides a straightforward way to add a sweet and savoury, Asian-inspired option to your burger display.
Rather than producing a large quantity immediately, begin with a small batch and introduce it as a weekend special. A clear counter description and finished serving suggestion can help customers understand how the burger could be used.
Try presenting it with ideas such as:
- Crunchy slaw
- Spring onions
- Pickled vegetables
- A teriyaki-style sauce
- A toasted brioche bun
These additions do not need to be included in the product itself. They simply help customers picture the finished meal.
That can make the difference between somebody noticing a new burger and actually taking it home.
Bring a taste of summer to the counter with Spanish Burger Mix
Spanish Burger Mix gives you another way to move beyond a standard plain burger.
It could be introduced as part of an internationally inspired range, a barbecue weekend or a rotating selection of holiday specials.
To support the product, show customers how they might serve it. Roasted red peppers, smoky mayonnaise, red onion or manchego-style cheese can help create a distinctive Spanish-inspired burger.
A strong finished-product photograph can be particularly useful here. Use it on social media, on a screen in the shop or beside the product in the counter so customers immediately understand the idea.
The aim is not just to sell a burger. It is to give the customer an easy summer meal they are excited to recreate at home.
How can a butcher test new flavours without overcommitting?
Experimenting does not need to mean producing large quantities or permanently changing your range.
Start small and give each product a defined trial period.
You could launch one flavour each weekend, produce a limited number of packs or include the products in a mixed barbecue selection. Samples can also help customers try an unfamiliar flavour before committing to a full purchase.
Make sure counter staff know:
- What the product tastes like
- Who it may appeal to
- How it can be cooked
- What could be served with it
- Whether it is a short-term special
You could also keep a simple record of sales and customer comments. This makes it easier to compare the products and decide which ones are worth repeating.
Use social media as part of the experiment
Your social media pages can help you test demand before and during a product launch.
Post a photograph of the finished product and ask customers which flavour they would try. Share preparation ideas, show a small batch being made or introduce the product as a limited weekend special.
Comments are not the same as confirmed sales, but they can give you an early indication of which ideas create interest.
Once the product is available, remind customers when and where they can buy it. A clear call to action is more useful than simply showing an attractive photograph.
Could a seasonal product become a permanent bestseller?
The value of summer experimentation continues after the holidays have finished.
A product introduced as a short-term barbecue special may prove popular enough to return regularly. It might become an annual summer favourite, inspire a related flavour or earn a permanent place in your counter.
Even when a trial does not produce the result you expected, it can still provide useful information about your customers’ preferences.
The key is to keep the experiment manageable, present the product clearly and pay attention to what people actually buy.
Try something new this summer
The summer holidays give customers a reason to change their routine—and give butchers a reason to refresh the counter.
Tomato Sausage Mix, Teriyaki Burger Mix and Spanish Burger Mix offer three different starting points: one recognisable family flavour and two internationally inspired burger options.
Start with a small batch, support it with a strong serving suggestion and see what your customers think.
A summer experiment could uncover your next bestseller.
Samples are available. Contact the Leonards Ingredients team or speak to your usual stockist to find out more.
FAQs
What are good summer products for a butcher’s counter?
Burgers, sausages, barbecue packs and quick-cook products are well suited to summer. Seasonal flavours and serving suggestions can help create additional interest.
How should butchers test a new burger or sausage flavour?
Begin with a small batch or limited weekend special. Use clear counter descriptions, finished-product images and customer feedback before committing to a larger quantity.
Which Leonards Ingredients products can be trialled this summer?
The summer range includes Tomato Sausage Mix, Teriyaki Burger Mix and Spanish Burger Mix. Tomato Sausage Mix is available in Gourmet and Gluten Free varieties.
How can new summer products be promoted?
Use counter signs, mixed barbecue packs, tasting samples, serving suggestions and social media posts showing the finished product.
Are product samples available?
Yes. Contact Leonards Ingredients or speak to your usual stockist about requesting samples.