Aaron Williams

Running the local butcher shop in the historic country village of Gunning was not on Aaron Williams’ radar, but when opportunity knocks...

Having run a successful mobile butcher service in the Upper Lachlan for many years, Aaron and his wife Kate were already well-known in the region when they took on the Gunning Butcher Shop in May 2018. Since then, the already popular business has gone from strength to strength, most recently taking out top gongs in the 2019 Australian Meat Industry Council’s Sausage King Competition in both the lamb and gourmet sausage categories followed by 2nd place in the traditional beef sausage category.

Aaron learnt his trade at Canberra’s award winning Southland’s Quality Meats where he developed a passion for quality produce. Ever since taking on the shop, Aaron has relished the opportunity to delve into his creative side to offer a greater range of gourmet sausages, meat and smallgoods. Kate has brought her marketing brilliance to the fore, launching a dedicated website with online ordering and home delivery functions and building up a substantial Facebook following. With an eye on the environment, Aaron and Kate have also introduced bring your own packaging initiatives, including pour your own honey from local Yass beekeepers Queen of Hearts Honey Company.

Aaron says that while the bulk of his customers are locals, he is seeing an increasing number of people coming from further afield to enjoy his products. Located just off the main Sydney-Melbourne route, he agrees that Gunning deserves its reputation for providing a relaxing stopover destination. Away from the hustle-bustle of other locations, visitors can enjoy excellent food and facilities as well as a friendly chat. Aaron recommends Barbour Park, beside beautiful Meadow Creek, to his customers for a picnic location and also suggests they unwind and stretch their legs by taking a stroll through the historic town and the surprising number of eclectic stores.

Looking ahead, Aaron is most excited about working with others in the community to get closer to his customers and focus on their needs. He and Kate love being part of the Gunning community – as he says, it’s a thriving community, filled with passionate people doing interesting and innovative things. Aaron and Kate’s message to readers? Come and see Gunning for yourself! Grab something delicious to take home for your friends and family – and then bring them with you when you return for more!

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