Parker Ranch partners with Waimea Butcher Shop to double down on Big Island-grown products

One of the largest and oldest cattle ranches in the United States is partnering with a whole-animal specialty butcher shop and deli to ensure year-round availability of Big Island-grown products.

Waimea Butcher Shop and Parker Ranch Inc. recently announced that they have signed an agreement for a strategic alliance. Under the terms of the partnership, Parker Ranch will become an equity owner in Waimea Butcher Shop and its strategic capital partner for future growth opportunities. Additionally, Mills Stovall will continue to operate the butcher shop’s day-to-day business as the manager and majority owner.

The deal is expected to close in early 2023.

The alliance is closely aligned with Parker Ranch’s strategic priorities of investing in Waimea, supporting the local agriculture ecosystem and sustainability. Stovall shares those values. His vision is to operate a sustainable, locally-sourced business that only offers products from the Big Island.

The plan for the new partnership is to continue to offer beef from different ranch brands based on the principle of “open” architecture to help ranches develop their brands and obtain access to retail customers.

“We want to provide market access to ranches who meet our specifications for quality and consistency. It is our goal to offer fresh beef 52 weeks a year, so we need steady supply from ranches who have demonstrated the capability to manage the resources responsibly and who continuously produce high-quality product year-round,” Stovall said in a press release. “Parker Ranch is an ideal partner to ensure year-round supply and who supports the open architecture strategy of offering beef from many different producers, ensuring harmony by balancing the ranching community’s interests through open access.”

Parker Ranch Inc. President and CEO Dutch Kuyper said the ranch is excited about the prospects of working with Stovall and looks forward to helping support his business.

“We fully expect that products from several ranches will continue to be offered and we hope to help ensure year-round availability of local beef,” Kuyper said in the press release.

A major consumer trend in recent years is the keen interest in knowing the origins of their food, where that food comes from and producers’ production methods. There is also a strong “eat local” movement that supports buying local food instead of imported products. Waimea Butcher Shop caters to the discerning customer who wants to know that the product they are buying and feeding to their families has integrity, authenticity and a genuine story.

“Mills meets our definition of an entrepreneur who is willing to take on the risks of starting a new business venture and who possesses the same values,” Kuyper said in the press release about Stovall. “He is passionate about his business, which he started seven years ago, and his customers who love his products and service. He has assembled a strong team of competent professionals who know their business and are obsessed with sourcing high-quality local products.”

Parker Ranch Inc. is owned by Parker Ranch Foundation Trust whose beneficiaries are four non-profit organizations: Queen’s North Hawai‘i Community Hospital, Hawai‘i Preparatory Academy, Parker School and Hawai‘i Community Foundation.

To learn more about Parker Ranch, click here or visit the trust’s website.

Waimea Butcher Shop is located in the Kamuela Business Center. It was founded in 2016 by Stovall, who has more than 20 years of culinary experience. The shop sources all its meat from local producers on the Big Island and has worked with hundreds of local businesses, including ranchers, farmers, restaurants and chefs, to support the local economy and showcase quality local products.

To learn more about Waimea Butcher Shop, click here.