Arkansas Meats
Owner: Waguih Wahba
Location: Ozark, Ark.
History: “After coming to America from Egypt, I became a chef for 25 years serving up to 2,500 people a night in fine dining and hotels in Philadelphia. I had always been fascinated by butchering sides of beef into steaks and roasts for the banquet business but did not care for the intense pressure of city living. My cousin lived in Arkansas raising chickens and invited me down. That business did not suit me at all so I temporarily owned a restaurant in Bentonville, Ark., while searching the Internet and finally purchasing Arkansas Meats in Ozark, Ark., two years ago. The fit is perfect, and I am raising my family exactly where I want to be because the town, the schools and the people are wonderful.”
Products and Services: “On Tuesdays I slaughter beef, hogs, lambs and goats as well as deer when in season and butcher the meat the rest of the week. Beef butchering makes up 90 percent of my business. While some people want their meat immediately, I advise my customers to let the meat age from two to four weeks depending upon the size and age of the animal because the aging adds flavor and tenderness. When customers arrive, I hand them a sheet to mark how they want the meat butchered. The most important service I offer is education. Most people don’t realize that clean meat from a carcass is generally only 40 percent of the animals’ original weight and a mere 10 percent of the clean meat weight is prime. In addition, we sugar cure and hickory smoke bacon and ham and make seasoned breakfast sausage.
Finally, I offer advice on cooking including letting the meat rest after cooking and before cutting so the juices will reabsorb in order to retain juiciness and flavor.”
Philosophy: “My business philosophy is simple: serve, serve, serve. The customer must come first and money second. I not only learn my customers’ names but also their preferences by keeping their order sheets for reference. Encouraging questions is critical and results in a very high volume of repeat customers.”
