When Dan and Libby Lennon opened their Otho Street butchery in 2003, they might not have envisioned the legacy, consistent quality of service, and range of products they would continue to provide to the Inverell district over two decades later.
Their wall of awards and endlessly busy trade in this retail butchery is a testament to the hard work invested in this family-run business. But while quality and variety in the cases is one thing, Lennon’s puts a priority on their customer service.
“When a customer comes in, they’re not just coming in to buy something for dinner. It’s also for the experience,” Lennon’s acting manager Wes Allcock said.
Dan said the chain of delivering quality products begins with his suppliers. “You try their products and if they provide the level of quality we expect then we can build on that relationship”. That quality is then passed onto the customers, along with good service and reasonable prices.
Wes had his apprenticeship with Lennon’s and stayed, as have many before him. The training is a group effort on the floor.
“It’s definitely a team-learning experience,” he said.
Lennon’s chooses locally-produced meats to stock their cases and create their range of products. Cold and freezer cases display all the traditional cuts of beef, lamb, pork, and chicken, and specialty items, like rolled roasts, schnitzels, racks of ribs, ready-made stir fry, lasagne and meatloaves, chicken parcels, rissoles and patties, gluten-free options, bulk cuts, free-range eggs, and bags of dog bones in assorted sizes.
Everything in the cases is made on site, including their bacon, ham, corned beef and silverside, range of chicken choices, and their rotating flavours of award-winning sausages.
“The only thing we don’t make is the marinade and the crumbs,” Wes said.
There is also a good selection of sauces, marinades, stocks, produce for roasting, and other cooking staples to complement the meats for sale. Staff are happy to provide suggestions about how to prepare certain cuts and products, and they do that themselves in their own homes.
“All the products we make, we enjoy eating ourselves. All this variety is what we take home to our families. That’s the sort of thing that we like to promote,” Wes said.
“It’s not just a business. We’re here for the community and their needs.”
Lennon’s reliability and quality has built up a wide customer base, including Inverell restaurants, pubs, clubs, and other local businesses. They take care with each private processing order for local farmers and businesses, taking time with each customer, ensuring they receive the cuts they desire.
As Lennon’s customers know, Dan, Libby and their kids have all played a strong role in the community, supporting fundraisers in the Inverell district, and responding to the needs of their customers and staff.
“Being part of a great community like Inverell means being involved and helping out when you can – something we are happy to do,” Dan said.
The Lennon children have worked in the business, and Dan and Libby value a family-friendly work culture.
“Dan and Libby are great employers to work for,” Wes said.
“They’re very family-oriented, so if things are going on in your life outside of work, they’re very negotiable, and they wear that sort of thing. They’re very understanding when it comes to your family, so I enjoy working here because of that.”
“Family is everything to us, but your business is also very reliant on your staff, and we are lucky to have the great crew that we have” Libby said.
“Good staff make a good business, so if they’re happy, and their family life is happy, then everyone’s happy.”
You can learn more about Lennon’s Butchery on their website: www.lennonsbutchery.com.au
Top image: Lennon’s Butchery owners Dan and Libby Lennon with their longest serving employee Charlie Hartley. (Photo: Kellie McCormack)
Lennon’s Butchery was voted by New England Times readers as the Best Butcher in the New England 2024.
See the other winners and more details about this promotion.