By ROGER DESAILLY
THERE’S a humble meat wholesaler in Far North Queensland celebrating the end of a big year, having won the Queensland Country Meat Processors Association (QCMPA) Processor of the Year for 2022
This prestigious industry award was presented to Bingil Bay Beef owner Grant Blennerhassett by Lincoln Waldock, President of the QCMPA, at the Gatton Campus of the University of Queensland.
The award criteria covers training and leadership, business development, commitment to the industry, safety and animal welfare.
The North Queensland based grass-fed beef producing Blennerhassett family invest heavily in the training of their team, including sending specific team members to fit for purpose professional development training programs throughout the state on a yearly basis.
With the growth and development of the Bingil Bay Beef brand, Grant and his team have now established a quality grass-fed beef brand that supplies a large customer base of local independent butchers and selected independent supermarket operators, who focus on quality local offerings.
Lincoln Waldock, QCMPA president, presenting the award to Grant Blennerhassett from Bingil Bay Beef at the Gatton campus of the University of Queensland. IMAGE: Supplied
Grant and wife Nikki are also very active participants in the many knowledge sharing and industry innovation initiatives hosted by the regional meat processing sector, and are committed to a safe working environment and maintaining strong animal welfare protocols across their full supply chain.
Upon receiving the award Blennerhassett was very happy to articulate the family business recipe for success.
“We are about busting perceptions and pleasing a lot of butchers and beef eaters,” he said.
As a proud family owned and operated grazing and wholesale beef operation most of our livestock are sourced from Goshen Station owned and operated by Brett and Theresa Blennerhassett, with Santa-Brahman steers and heifers taken through to about 380kg liveweight, then sent to our coastal finishing property at Bingil Bay.
“HGP (Hormone Growth Promotant) free, our cattle are then finished on our improved coastal pastures which guarantees you the best grass-fed natural beef in North Queensland.”
A deserving winner and a great example of a regional Queensland based family business that is leading the way in sustainable beef production, processing, marketing and meeting consumer needs, all with a “can do” country attitude.