EASTERN ONTARIO: Enright Cattle Company to buy Quinn’s Meats

YARKER — After some uncertainty around the future of Quinn’s Meats at Yarker, a slaughterhouse northwest of Kingston, a buyer has been found.
Enright Cattle Company, a Tweed beef farm, has agreed to purchase the business. The Enrights already offer meat delivery services and process cow hides into leather products.

Brian Quinn took over the slaughterhouse 46 years ago and had been looking for a buyer for the last few months. Quinn’s planned retirement sparked concern amongst area farmers, since Quinn’s Meats was the only show around. Slaughterhouse space has been at a premium since the pandemic hit, and like many other operations, Quinn’s meats is booked well in advance. Many abattoirs are booking animals six months to a year in advance.

Quinn said he was willing to be picky and find a buyer planning to keep the business going, knowing his customers relied on him. But if the right buyer didn’t turn up he’d eventually still have to sell. A few area farms said that if Quinn’s Meats shut down, they would too.

The Enrights said they’ll keep the place running, Quinn said. And based on how busy it’s been, they “might have to hire some more help.” The deal was to close on Feb. 1. As for Quinn, he said he’d stay on until the end of April.