Decades delivering to the region
THE grass has never been greener for a dynamic Cairns brother and sister duo.
Veteran butcher John Edmonds Sr defied the chorus of naysayers when he opened a bulk meats store with his wife Rayna at Earlville in 1993.
Now, 26 years on, two of his children are ensuring Cairns Bulk Meats remains a respected family operation in the Far North business community.
The pair has hit the accelerator, despite an everpresent challenge posed by the supermarket giants.
Darinda Chapman, who codirects the store with her younger brother John Edmonds Jr, hasn’t looked back after “falling into the job”.
“Dad had a dream to open his own shop, but nothing was here back then and everyone told him it wouldn’t work,” she said.
“My brothers were butchers and I didn’t know anything about meat, but I started working here just weeks after having a baby.”
The store opened with just one butcher apprentice on board and was otherwise entirely run by the family. Now they employ 22 local staff which includes six apprentices.
Mrs Chapman’s youngest brother Kris, who now runs his own butcher at Halifax near Ingham, was also a key part of the team.
With a focus on quality and affordability, Cairns Bulk Meats went about building a loyal customer base.
“Over the years things just got bigger and we were slowly able to expand.”
Mrs Chapman, who specialises in the accounting and administration side of the business, said she enjoyed working alongside her younger brother.
“Few people work harder than John,” she said.
“You need a thick skin to work with family. If we don’t agree about something we will have words but then just move on.”
Cairns Bulk Meats sources beef, chicken and pork from the Atherton Tablelands, while its lamb is trucked up from Victoria.
The butcher’s premium quality King Reef product is also sourced out of Victoria, from prime quality grass-fed yearling beef.
Apart from its large local clientele, the business services customers throughout Cape York and the northern islands.
It comes at a time when many family-owned food businesses face mounting competition from major supermarket chains.
But Mrs Chapman insisted she “never worried” about the major franchises.
“You’ve got to stick to your own game plan,” she said.
“Our range is enormous and a lot bigger than what they have.
“A lot of people are doing it tough in Cairns and we’ve tried to concentrate on catering for everyone’s budget.
“You can come in here and speak to a real butcher and we’ll carry your box to the car for you if it’s too heavy.
“If you don’t feel like cooking, or for that special event — we have cooked beef, lamb and pork roasts available seven days a week.
“This is why we’ve had the same customers coming here for more than 20 years.”
Mrs Chapman said she still enjoyed the work and was proud to help drive a well-known family business.
“We are happy The Bakehouse has reopened next door with the original owners; now you can pick up a lovely hot roast from us and get your fresh rolls and bread from next door,” she said. Cairns Bulk Meats is open 6am–6pm Monday to Friday, 6am–5pm Saturday and 6am–4pm Sunday at 36-38 Ishmael Rd, Earlville. Ph: 4033 2811 or visit: cairnsbulkmeats.com.au for more information.