Kev Brown’s Butchery owner Kevin Brown retires after 52 years

‘I just felt the time was right’: There will be no Christmas hams this year for a Rockhampton butcher who is hanging up his apron after 52 years in the business.

Kevin Brown, owner of Kev Brown's Butchery, is retiring after 52 years. Picture: Aden Stokes

There will be no Christmas hams this year for Rockhampton butcher Kevin Brown who is hanging up his apron after 52 years in the business.

Mr Brown, who owns Kev Brown’s Butchery in the Highway Palms shopping complex, announced his retirement this month.

At 16 years old, Mr Brown began his apprenticeship as a butcher in 1971 at Conaghan Brothers in Rockhampton.

Fast forward nearly 20 years to 1988, Mr Brown opened his own butchery in the Highway Palms shopping complex on Yaamba Road, where he has remained for the last 35 years.

Kevin Brown opened Kev Brown's Butchery in the Highway Palms shopping complex in 1988. Picture: Aden Stokes

“It was a butcher shop before I took it on,” he said.

“I changed it all around and have been going ever since. It’s been very good to me.

“I’ve had great staff who I treat like family.

“It’s not easy, it’s a hard slog but the rewards come.”

Kevin Brown holding his finalist award for 2022 Best In Business. Picture: Aden Stokes

Kev Brown’s award-winning kabana. Picture: Contributed

Mr Brown’s butchery has won numerous awards over the years.

In 2019, the butchery won the Queensland Regional Smallgoods Competition for kabana and last year it “cracked a hat-trick”, winning two Regional Sausage King Competition awards for Australian lamb/open class and traditional Australian beef and placed as a finalist in the best small business category in the Best In Business awards.

“It puts a bit of a feather in your cap and makes you think it was all worthwhile,” Mr Brown said.

Mr Brown, who is 69 years old, said he didn’t want to still be working when he was 70.

Kevin Brown has been working as a butcher for 52 years. Picture: Aden Stokes

He said he put the business on the market about 18 months ago through Benchmark Business Brokers.

“If it didn’t go by a certain date I was going to go and play with the grandkids and live another life on the other side of the counter,” he said.

“I am looking forward to it.

“I just felt the time was right.”

Kevin Brown celebrating 30 years in business. Picture: Chris Ison

Mr Brown’s last day is August 31.

He said he was looking forward to having Christmas off this year, a holiday he hasn’t had in the last 52 years.

“No hams this year,” he said.

He said the response to his retirement had been overwhelming.

Kevin Brown’s last day as a butcher is August 31. Picture: Chris Ison

“If it wasn’t for the good staff I have had over the years and the loyal clientele, I wouldn’t have a business,” he said.

“We’ve done the right thing, the clientele just keep coming back.

“It’s been great. I love it to death.

“It is a great little business for someone who wants to have a go.”