Chapman & Son is currently owned and run by Chris Chapman. Chris is the 6th consecutive generation to run the family business which dates back to 1790.

Having completed his ‘A’ levels in 1979 Chris went on to attend Smithfield College (the college for the distributive trades), as his father Lewis had done before him and where his grandfather had lectured. Whilst at college Chris won a prize for the best project. Chris’ subject was “The problems of intensive animal production” which was a subject that had not been documented at the time but has come to prominence in recent years.

On leaving college Chris stared work at the Old Coulsdon shop, which he managed until it was sold in 1996. Chris then joined his father, Lewis, at the Tadworth shop where they worked together until Lewis retired in 2001.

Lewis's father Ron had run this shop before Lewis along with other interests in the meat trade. Ron in turn took over the Tadworth shop from his father, Arthur Lewis. Arthur Lewis moved to Tadworth in 1908 when the shop was newly built having previously owned a shop in Kenley, Surrey. Arthur Lewis’ father was John Chapman who was a butcher and grazier from Oundle. John was the father of four boys, but he was only able to keep one of them in that shop. The other three left the area to find their own way in life. Arthur Lewis moved to Surrey, one moved to Canada and the other to East London, South Africa. John’s father was also named John and he too was from Oundle.