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A WELL-KNOWN Border butchery business is now in the hands of the fourth generation of family.
The Haus of Meat, which has stores in Lavington and West Wodonga, is now being operated by Bonita Bollinghaus and her husband John.
But customers may still see a very familiar face some days behind the counter with third-generation butcher – and Bonita's dad – Mark still involved.
Bonita said the change in operations happened quite suddenly, when Mark suffered a stroke in 2015.
“After suffering from a stroke, Bonita and her husband John stepped up overnight to take on the role of running the business,” Mark said.
“It was the injection of youth our company needed.
“I no longer can manage the business since the stroke and having my family just step up overnight was humbling.”
Bonita said because her father was still involved in the business and seen at the stores, this may be the cause of some confusion for some people.
"He's like semi-retired, comes in later and goes early – actually takes days off,” she said.
Bonita was certainly no stranger to the business, having worked for the family business for 11 years full time.
Her husband John started in 2008 as an apprentice.
He won National Apprentice of the year 2011 from William Angliss Institute of TAFE.
“I can be honest that it wasn’t a personal goal to take over the family business, but in truth it has been a natural process,” Bonita said.
HISTORY
It was back in 2001 when the company first started trading under the name The Haus of Meat in Birallee Village.
It was the third butcher shop operated by Mark Bollinghaus at the time, along with his locations in Albury and Wodonga, both trading under different names.
Over time, Mark changed all his stores to trade under The Haus of Meat title.
Currently, the business operates out of two locations – Birallee Village in Wodonga and at Discount Grocery Warehouse in Lavington.
This advertising feature is supported by: The Haus of Meat