IT SURVIVED wartime food rationing and shrugged off competition from supermarkets who sell sausages "full of water and rubbish".
But the shutter is finally due to fall on north Hull family butchers Welburn Foods Ltd, which opened in 1934.
Alfred, 76, and Charles, 73, who took over the business from their late father, William, in 1970, say the time is right to retire while they are healthy.
Despite passing state retirement age years ago, the hard-working brothers are in the shop six days a week.
But Charles said: "Last Christmas nearly killed us – business was booming.
"If Alf and I were still in our 40s, we'd still be here, but we're in our 70s and we want to enjoy our retirement while we are still in reasonable health, so we've decided to call it a day."
Loyal customers have been saddened to learn the shop is to close.
"People have been asking us, 'Where are we going to get our Christmas meat from?'" said Charles.
"We've known a lot of our customers for years.
"Over the years, people have moved away from the area but they come back to get their meat from Welburn's.
"We have people from Kirk Ella and the other villages around Hull come to us. They'll stock up their freezers.
"One customer comes all the way from Castleford.
"Another regular, Dr Robinson, is in his 80s and I remember him coming into the shop when I was a lad of 18."
Independent traders the length and breadth of the country blame the large supermarkets for ruining trade.
But not the Welburns.
Charles claims the shop is a cut above the supermarket, thanks to their premium produce.
"Their sausages are full of water and rubbish," he said. "No fat will come out of our sausages – they're lean.
"We make our own bacon, sausages, hams, sausage rolls and pork pies.
"We're in a little niche – our meat is premium. We've not really been affected by the supermarkets."
Despite the fact business is booming for the brothers, they have struggled to find a buyer.
"It's been on the market for a couple of years," said Charles. "But we've had no takers. We'd have liked to have kept it open, with new owners."
Charles believes the long hours, together with the perception that supermarkets are killing trade for smaller businesses, has put people off.
He said: "We're up early and work late."
Until a few years ago, Charles's wife, Diane, and Alfred's other half, Maureen, worked in the shop.
"They still help out now and again," said Charles.
The Welburns wholesale food business, next to the shop, will continue trading, despite the shop closing in September.
After years of graft, no one would blame the brothers for putting their feet up when they shut up shop next month.
But Charles and his wife plan to travel, with Canada top of the wish-list.
"I've always wanted to go there," he said. "Diane is from Scotland originally, so we're planning to tour there, too."
Alfred, a trustee of East Yorkshire Gun Club, plans to devote his time to his hobby.
Asked what he is going to miss most, Alfred revealed: "Not having to get up at 6am in the morning."
