Leonard Meat & Produce It took three years for Chuck Clifton, owner of Leonard Meat and Produce, to buy-in to his manager’s suggestion to expand into retail sales.
If you’ve eaten at the most popular local burger places in Topeka, you’ve probably eaten beef from Leonard Meat and Produce. “I tell people you’ve most likely had our product and not even known it,” said owner Chuck Clifton. “We sell hamburger and hamburger patties to over 20 Topeka restaurants.” Leonard Meat was founded in 1951. Troy Mentzer, the current owner of The Pad Restaurant, suggested that Clifton buy the wholesale meat company in 2002. Clifton had worked at The Pad and served as manager, from 1988-1992, so the two knew that they would work well together. “Troy asked me how much I knew about meat, and I responded that I like to eat it,” Clifton said, laughing. “That’s how we started talking about working together to buy Leonard Meat.”
Photo by EMMA HIGHFILL
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JULY/AUGUST 2020
TK Business Magazine
EXPANDING INTO RETAIL Just this year, Leonard Meat and Produce expanded into a retail operation, with a storefront available for walk-in purchases. Customers can shop brats, chicken, pork and beef
