Small business meats demand

SMOKED IT: The Grumpy Smoker owners Carla Mashado and Stuart Thomson were "blown away" with their sales on Monday night at the Vanisittart Park New Year's Eve celebrations, selling almost 90kg of prepared meat in under three hours. Pictures: MOLLY TAYLOR

SMOKED IT: The Grumpy Smoker owners Carla Mashado and Stuart Thomson were “blown away” with their sales on Monday night at the Vanisittart Park New Year’s Eve celebrations, selling almost 90kg of prepared meat in under three hours. Pictures: MOLLY TAYLOR

A SMALL business broke personal records at the Vansittart Park New Year’s Eve celebrations on Monday night selling close to 90kg of meat in under three hours.

Both Carla Mashado and Stuart Thomson were warned by the Mount Gambier Community Events committee before the event to expect a rapid influx of hungry patrons.

“We were blown away with how busy we have been,” Mr Thomson said.

“In just under three hours we have almost sold out of 90kg of meat.

“We have been flat out.”

The couple said the sales from the event topped the Millicent Show “by far”.

Ms Mashado hopes the event continues to run in following years.

“It is a community-orientated event for those that have younger children and I think the grand kids would love it,” she said.

“This is my first time here and it seems great.”

Other well-stocked catering enterprises were also under the pump with the South Indians Baseball Club almost selling out of barbecued food, along with the Rotary Club of Mount Gambier West, which sold out of 400 pizzas before the night ended.