Learning to Adapt

Longhorn Meat Market Plans for the Future

Words by Sean Saldana Photos by Eric Morales

Throughout the pandemic, Longhorn Meat Market has grown its social media following, expanded its services, and hired new employees.

Customer deliveries, non-stop phone calls, and vendor price sheets that update daily are just a few of the things James Leach, owner of Longhorn Meat Market, has gotten accustomed to over the past few months.

An East Austin presence for over five decades, Longhorn Meat Market is a butcher shop that specializes in beef, poultry, and pork. “There are retail customers on the Eastside who have been shopping with us for their entire lives,” James says fondly as he recalls their loyal customers. “People think it’s small businesses that breed employment, but it’s customers who have demands that breed employment.”

In 2018, James took over the shop after learning that his great aunt was considering closing the business. Since then, he’s grown the staff, expanded the business offerings, and most recently, taken on a global pandemic.
Traditionally, about 70% of Longhorn Meat’s sales have come from wholesale distribution. But in the weeks following restaurants and other non-essential businesses shuttering, James estimates that wholesale now makes up around 10 to 15% of revenues.

There are, however, a number of positives. For one, the company’s social media presence has doubled, and newsletter subscriptions have spiked by more than 1,500. In their efforts to ramp up retail sales, the company has completely revamped its website, has started delivering locally, and shipping meat across Texas. Demand has been so high that James has had to hire four more employees.

Through all of the unpredictability, James remains optimistic and feels confident that if wholesale demand returns as the pandemic winds down, Longhorn Meat has the potential to emerge in a stronger position than before.

Their goal is to go above and beyond to serve their customers during this time. He remains hopeful in that customers all the way to Leander, “see us driving to drop off $50 worth of stuff, and think that’s something that’s going to resonate within the city.”

In addition to continuing local delivery, shipping throughout the state, and selling grocery essentials like eggs and coffee, James also intends to keep the new employees they’ve hired.

“We’ve breached into channels that this completely old school business would have never even touched. That’s going to change the future of the company forever,” James insists.

Looking toward the future, James is most excited about the market aspect of Longhorn Meat Market. He envisions a shopping experience where community members walk to the store, “buy enough [food] for two or three days” and enjoy the benefits of knowing their local butcher and grocer.

“Soon,” James adds, “customers will be able to go to Longhorn Meat Market and get ‘a little bit of everything.’”