*Donie, Brian, Maeve, Renata, Pat and Darren
Donie O’Keeffe operates Champion Meats, a small family business with a strong commitment to the local Turnpike area of Ennis.
Donie credits the support of business neighbors who have played a pivotal role in Turnpike, providing an unbreakable link with the residents belonging to the vibrant and historical part of town.
Mid-March saw the implementation of swift and drastic measures of compliance, in accordance with national health and safety regulations. Shop layout and full adherence to HACCP protocols were the first maneuvers made. An option to pre-order and collect, as well as a dedicated delivery number used for collection, were some of the changes implemented. A limited delivery service for the elderly and vulnerable was also established. Champions Meats heartily welcomes all those who were forced to cocoon to the Turnpike store once again.
Champions Meats prides itself on the competence and affability of those providing an essential service behind the counter, “My staff are the backbone of this business – some of the staff are here since we opened in 1996. I would be lost without them and their loyalty was particularly evident during this recent pandemic. We have amazing customers also who were patient with us over the past three months as we implemented some necessary measures to ensure everyone’s safety during COVID-19 and for this we are very grateful.”
Donie maintains the tradition of offering grass fed beef, enriched with flavour, tenderness and guaranteed quality. Also available in store is premium quality Pork, Bacon and Poultry Products along with a huge selection of ready to cook meals. Donie contends that quality cannot be compromised and therefore all his products are of the highest quality. Champion Meats offer a large selection of ready to cook BBQ products, which haven seen a surge in demand due to a break in the weather.
Donie concludes with, “there is no doubt that some positives have come from all of this. We have seen changes in people’s shopping habits over the past few months. Now more than ever, people are more aware of the importance of supporting local businesses. Life as we know it has changed and as both consumers and businesses, we have had to change how we operate.  It has been great to see our fellow retailers in the town re-open their doors over the past few weeks. We look forward to seeing more businesses opening up soon and returning to this new form of normality in the future’.Â
