THE future of a family butcher shop that has built a strong reputation, business connection and customer base for more than 40 years is assured thanks to succession planning.
Eric Duff opened The Beef Joint in Healesville's shopping strip in 1971.
Son Ben spent his formative years helping at the shop and would rather have been behind the counter than anywhere else.
As an adult, Ben worked in other industries and while working with his wife on farms across Europe, he realised how strong his interest in livestock was. They also visited many butcher shops and were inspired by what they saw. Ben's career goal became clear – he wanted to join his father in the butcher shop and add some European flavour to the meat and smallgoods sold.
The Beef Joint sells grass-fed and free-range beef and lamb and last year added Warby Free Range Pork. Most of the produce is sourced locally from the Yarra Valley, depending on availability, and the family has been consistently dealing with the same abattoirs for 30 years.
The shop also sells pates and terrines made by Eric's wife and Ben's mum Val, and a range of sausage made on the premises that change every week.
Ben worked part-time in the shop for a couple of years from 2002 and then devoted his work to a full-time position.
Investing time and money, including buying a smoke oven to make more value-added smallgoods, got the father and son team talking about succession planning.
"We realised how important it was," Ben said.
"Within a family dynamic, it can be hard because you've got to reach agreement and there are legal obligations to meet as well. You can't do things on a handshake."
When Eric was planning a six-week holiday from the shop last year, they decided to formalise their succession planning discussions.
Ben's advice for anyone considering succession planning is to be active, that is to have a plan in place before it is needed, know the legal requirements and be transparent and communicate clearly with everyone involved.
The starting point for the discussions was Eric and Val's estate, including The Beef Joint, would be divided between their four children.
"But I had put a lot of time and money into the business," Ben said.
Ben spoke with a solicitor and 'nutted' out the legal requirements. Then during a barbecue with his brothers, sister and their families, they discussed the succession plan.
Ben's siblings didn't want to be involved in the butcher shop and Ben said it was easy to come to an agreement. The family members signed the documents in the days before Eric left on his trip.
"I always had the idea we'd keep it (The Beef Joint) going especially now my son Cooper, 4, who like me, wants to come to the shop at the weekend and asks why he can't come to the shop instead of going to day care," Ben said.
Succession planning means the legacy of the hard work to build up a business based on quality and customer service will continue.
"At The Beef Joint, we have good base of customers who are as passionate about food as we are – we wouldn't put something in the window that we wouldn't want to eat ourselves," Ben said.
"We've built a brand and it's important to plan to maintain its integrity."
