Adam Prudhomme
Editor
Brian Quinn’s Meats Ltd., a staple of the Yarker agricultural business community, assumed new ownership on Monday.
The family owned business that was established in 1976 was officially transferred to Darold and Kara Enright of Enright Cattle Company. The meat retail and processing store will continue to operate in the same capacity and will still bear the Quinn’s Meats name.
The Enrights, who boast four generations worth of farming in their family, are based in Tweed.
“We understand firsthand how important it is to local farmers to have access to quality processing and being able to have their livestock locally processed so that they can provide for their community while continuing to make a living for themselves,” said Kara. “It’s something that we’re very passionate about, just being able to continue to provide those services to the agricultural community as well as knowing that we will have our services available for our farm as well.”
Quinn’s was first put up for sale in November when owners Brian and Brenda Quinn announced their plans to retire.
Though new to Lennox and Addington County, the Enrights are quite familiar with the farming community based on its proximity to Tweed.
“Agricultural industry is fairly small, the counties are right next door and we knew a lot of the different producers in the area and we look forward to meeting all the ones that we don’t already know,” said Kara.
There was no interruption in services as the new owners kept the previous staff and will look to add more in the near future.
“It’ll probably grow a little bit because we’re planning to continue to service their current clientele as well as processing our own beef, so we’re adding our beef to that,” said Kara. “We were working with Quinn’s for the last few years for some of the products we have, our beef jerky and our bologna, but they weren’t actually doing the full harvesting and breaking down of the carcasses for us, so that will now happen there. And with Brian and Brenda retiring, they were very active in the business as well so we’ll be looking to fill those roles.”
When news of the new ownership broke on social media earlier this week, there was quite a buzz in the community.
“We’re completely overwhelmed because you don’t really know what to expect,” said Kara. “The community has welcomed us and we’ve had neighbours and customers that have been coming to Quinn’s for many many years come in and welcome us and wish us the best and let us know that they’re still continuing to come in and support the business, and that means a lot to us. We’re really excited that way. We have huge boots to fill because Quinn’s ran a really good operation. We’re going to be striving to do the same. I was really excited to see that the employees that are there are really really great. They all know their job so well and they were all so excited to work with us and they’re excited to learn how our beef gets cut and broken down and our poultry sustainability program.”
Quinn’s is located on 3998 County Road 1 East in Yarker and will maintain the same hours of Monday-Friday 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays while remaining closed on Sundays.