Gourmet, neighborhood butcher franchise is ready to expand across the country
The neighborhood butcher shop is coming back. While once an essential part of every community, the local butcher shop was in danger of going the way of the dinosaur – and then something extraordinary happened: the foodies were born.
Now neighborhood butcher shops are experiencing a full-blown resurgence. With more Americans cooking at home than ever before, foodie culture is driving a newfound interest in food education. People want to know where their meat comes from, they want to know that they’re buying high-quality, healthy products, and most importantly, they want to know how to cook it correctly.
This is why Southern Steer exists. Since our founding in 2013, Southern Steer has taken the Tampa bay-area in Florida, by storm. With daily specials that highlight our specialty products, such as our marinated steaks, chicken, take-n-bake sides, and more, Southern Steer has won a large, cult-like fan base of people who drive from miles away to visit us. In turn, our business has experienced double-digit growth for several consecutive years, including 2020, which was our best ever year in business so far.
“You get a higher quality meat when you visit us,” says Greg Snyder, CEO and Founder of Southern Steer. “You get a product that’s rotated faster so it’s fresher than what you can get at the grocery store. But most importantly, there’s the customer service side of it. Our customers always have questions and we help them leave with the confidence that they’re going to cook their meat correctly. We’re like an education center for the community. We’re here to teach people, to encourage people, and to help our customers enjoy cooking more. It’s a fun opportunity to be able to do that.”
The pandemic proved that neighborhood butchers are essential and recession-resistant businesses
When the entire American economy seemingly shut down overnight due to the outbreak of COVID-19, only essential businesses were allowed to operate. Neighborhood butchers were not only essential but also acted as lifelines for Americans who could no longer go out to eat and had to discover cooking for the first time.
Southern Steer is no different. Our two stores in the Tampa bay-area exploded in terms of sales increases as well as new customers – a trend that has only continued as our new customers have become regulars after discovering just how fun it is to cook a great meal at home.
“We were blessed during this time, we had a very strong increase in sales throughout the pandemic,” Snyder says. “We had a tremendous increase in new customers. People rediscovered cooking. They couldn’t go out to eat and we were there to help them be able to make a special meal at home – and the best part is these customers have kept coming back to us. It’s been an extraordinary time for us as a business and we’re very thankful for that.”
You don’t have to be a butcher to own a Southern Steer franchise
One of the best parts about owning a Southern Steer butcher shop franchise is that you don’t need to know anything about the art of being a butcher.
Our experience in running two highly successful butcher shops over the last eight years in business has led us to develop an intensive training program that covers every aspect of your business. We help you with everything from marketing, to real-estate, to inventory management, to waste reduction, to increasing profitability, and more. We’re here to help you every step of the way.
“We’ve worked out everything about how to market your business, how to build a community presence, and how to manage your product to maximize profitability,” Snyder says. “Our training is comprehensive. We will train you in every aspect of this business so that you can replicate what we’ve built in the Tampa bay-area in your community. Just follow our business model, add water, put it in the oven, and set it to 400 degrees. It’s really that straightforward.”
Now is the time to open a butcher shop in your community
If you want to own a business that is a community pillar, helps people find joy in cooking, serves exceptional products, and delivers great customer service, owning a Southern Steer franchise is the right choice.
With low start-up costs, a straightforward business model, and an exceptional track record of success, Southern Steer is ready to expand across the nation.
“We’re looking for passionate people to join us,” Snyder says. “A butcher shop is a recession-resistant business that is only becoming more relevant. People want to know where their food comes from and how to cook it – and that is not going to change. We’ve built a business model that offers tremendous profit potential, great work/life balance, and the ability to offer something every community needs. We’re excited to franchise with people that share our passion for this business. It’s so much fun and it’s so exciting to be a part of – and now we want to share that with entrepreneurs.”
Ready to Become a Southern Steer Franchise Owner?
If you’re ready to open a butcher shop franchise in your community, simply fill out the form on this site and begin a conversation. We can’t wait to learn more about you!
