main street royalty reigns
There’s a giggle in the undertone of conversation when Ashley and Tina Thomson share their claim to fame as being the multi-award winning Sausage Kings.
This is a mighty achievement for a small town butcher but certainly not a surprise to the local Alstonville community who know they are home to a business who is not afraid to step outside of the norm.
With more than 46 gongs at regional, state and national level for their efforts, Alstonville Quality Meats deservedly embrace the Sausage King and Best Butchers Burger titles.
“The Sausage King winnings have really put us on the map!” Ashley says.
Other awards have come in from the Australian Meat Industry Council, Australian Pork Mark, and the local Chamber of Commerce, including Retail Business of the Year and Business of the Year.
But not all successes come easy. “We’ve had to put in a lot of hard yards in the past six years and product innovation has been high on our agenda,” he says.
“We encourage our team, young and old, to be creative at all levels to achieve our ultimate goal of being the very best quality gourmet butcher and deli in the Northern Rivers.”
Ashley, who spent the earlier part of his career in Brisbane and Mackay, says one of the things he enjoys most about working in the Northern Rivers is the high-quality, locally-sourced produce that’s available.
“The people of the Northern Rivers are spoilt with the absolute finest food and our customers are consuming the very best quality this area has to offer,” he says.


The team attribute their business success to the diversity of their customers with retail consumers a critical mainstay, however they have also built an exceptionally successful wholesale side of the business.
“We supply to many of the region’s boutique restaurants and cafes – who all share our ethos for high-quality locally-sourced meats,” Ashley says.
These include Eltham Valley Pantry, Nat’s Coffee, 86 on Main, Quattro and Two Hands just to name a few – and, unsurprisingly, these are also some of Tina and Ashley’s favourite places to enjoy a meal after and during work hours.
The next step for the business will take it from Alstonville to the world, with online sales launching later in the year. “This is really the great unknown for us and we’re very excited for the challenge.”
Ashley has a simple formula for success: “Happy customers, happy staff, moving with the times, and helping support local growers and businesses in Northern Rivers.”
“We encourage our team, young and old, to be creative at all levels”
Share this story
Read more stories
Talking together for 50 years
https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Jumbunna.jpg 1440 1080 In Good Company | Northern Rivers In Good Company | Northern Rivers https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Jumbunna.jpgJumbunna Community Preschool and Early Intervention Centre
The early childhood sector has played a vital role in supporting communities and families in the Northern Rivers amid the onslaught of challenges in the last three years.
let there be light
https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/northern_lights-_ballina_northern_rivers_001.jpg 2000 1333 In Good Company | Northern Rivers In Good Company | Northern Rivers https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/northern_lights-_ballina_northern_rivers_001.jpgNorthern Light
“I eat a pot of honey every day and I’ve been stung more than 70,000 times,” says Jeffrey Gibbs, founder of Northern Light, an organic beeswax…
Delivering top service, come hospital or high water
https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/McLeans-Frieght-Service_Leisa.jpg 870 652 In Good Company | Northern Rivers In Good Company | Northern Rivers https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/McLeans-Frieght-Service_Leisa.jpgMcLeans Freight Service
When Leisa Blok’s father, Laurie McLean, began running urgent nighttime blood deliveries from Lismore airport in 1992, he mightn’t have expected the one-man gig to expand into a 50-vehicle courier fleet, delivering across the entire northern NSW region.
Hovering across the wave of success
https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/FliteImage.jpg 1139 749 In Good Company | Northern Rivers In Good Company | Northern Rivers https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/FliteImage.jpgFliteboard
It was meant to be an extended break for David Trewern and his family. A chance to rest and reset in Byron Bay after decades of building and selling fast-growing digital marketing agencies. But as he looked out over Belongil beach in 2014, an idea struck him.
A community cornerstone bouncing forward
https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Coraki-Post-Office.jpeg 2048 1260 In Good Company | Northern Rivers In Good Company | Northern Rivers https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Coraki-Post-Office.jpegCoraki Post Office
For all that has been thrown at the small town of Coraki in recent times, the owners of the town’s post office are rolling with the punches.
world class creatives
https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/meme-productions-featured-image.jpg 1000 750 In Good Company | Northern Rivers In Good Company | Northern Rivers https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/meme-productions-featured-image.jpgMememe Productions
The piece of advice that dirtgirlworld creator, Cate McQuillen, likes to share with other creative entrepreneurs in the region tells much about her story…
building bridges with water
https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Yaru-bottles.jpg 1600 1067 In Good Company | Northern Rivers In Good Company | Northern Rivers https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Yaru-bottles.jpgYaru Water
“This unique partnership between an Indigenous family and a non-Indigenous family enabled Yaru Water to start changing the way the procurement…
flying high, with a helicopter view
https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/air-tg-ballina-helicpoters-002.jpg 800 531 In Good Company | Northern Rivers In Good Company | Northern Rivers https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/air-tg-ballina-helicpoters-002.jpgAir T&G
Northern Rivers is well known for its breathtaking natural beauty, and imagine if your day at the office involved enjoying these views from the air…
Community connection runs deep
https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Untitled-1.jpg 1644 848 In Good Company | Northern Rivers In Good Company | Northern Rivers https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Untitled-1.jpgConnect Business Solutions
Connect Business Solutions can be thought of as the glue that holds a business community together.
Position, people, poached eggs and a president
https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Caperberry_James-Allan-scaled.jpg 2560 1920 In Good Company | Northern Rivers In Good Company | Northern Rivers https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Caperberry_James-Allan-scaled.jpgCaperberry and Flinders Rose
What makes an entire family move from three different cities to live together in a quiet coastal town? Great coffee.
building a good reputation
https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/brett_harley_building_002.jpg 1000 667 In Good Company | Northern Rivers In Good Company | Northern Rivers https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/brett_harley_building_002.jpgBrett Harley
When the only pub in town burns to the ground, it’s a big responsibility being the one chosen to rebuild it. The success of Uki’s new Mt Warning…
Spirit of Byron in a bottle
https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Cawarra-Cosmetics_Katrina-2-scaled.jpg 2560 1707 In Good Company | Northern Rivers In Good Company | Northern Rivers https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Cawarra-Cosmetics_Katrina-2-scaled.jpgCawarra Cosmetics
Cawarra Cosmetics has been a leading manufacturer of Australian skincare, personal care and cleaning products in the region for more than 40 years.
Clean green superfood team
https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Foods-That-Love-You-Back_Erle.jpg 768 1024 In Good Company | Northern Rivers In Good Company | Northern Rivers https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Foods-That-Love-You-Back_Erle.jpgFoods That Love You Back
Health activist Erle Astrup founded Foods That Love You Back in January 2021, and her business – which has created the world’s first affordable, alkaline shot of concentrated microgreens – is infused with the passion she has for driving it.
spirit of the rainforest
https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/cape-byron-distellery-002.jpg 960 540 In Good Company | Northern Rivers In Good Company | Northern Rivers https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/cape-byron-distellery-002.jpgCape Byron Distillery
Let’s forget the beaches for a moment, as the true lifeblood of the Northern Rivers landscape is surely its rainforests, some of the most botanically…
Step back in time for ‘reel’
https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Yamba-Cinema-Debbie-scaled.jpg 2560 1920 In Good Company | Northern Rivers In Good Company | Northern Rivers https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Yamba-Cinema-Debbie-scaled.jpgYamba Cinema
Yamba Cinema is not just a popular venue to see the latest movie in an idyllic Northern Rivers town.
Cool to be kind and cans it
https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/The-Kind-Coffee-Co.-Product.jpg 957 1277 In Good Company | Northern Rivers In Good Company | Northern Rivers https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/The-Kind-Coffee-Co.-Product.jpgThe Kind Coffee Co.
The KIND Coffee Co, reflects its name in everything it does.
Heart and Soul of a region
https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Michael-Hampson-outside.jpg 1500 2250 In Good Company | Northern Rivers In Good Company | Northern Rivers https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Michael-Hampson-outside.jpgNorco Co-operative
Norco has an impressive origin story.
spellbinding growth for a home grown icon
https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/spell_designs_byron_bay001.jpg 1000 667 In Good Company | Northern Rivers In Good Company | Northern Rivers https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/spell_designs_byron_bay001.jpgSpell Designs
The scent, texture and aura of Byron Bay is famous, and well-loved. If that Byron Bay feeling was a fashion brand, it would surely be Spell & The Gypsy Collective….
collaboration and cooperative capital
https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/NCMC-workers.jpeg 1600 1066 In Good Company | Northern Rivers In Good Company | Northern Rivers https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/NCMC-workers.jpegNorthern Cooperative Meat Company
It comes as little surprise that one of the largest employers on the Northern Rivers is a co-operative, and with Casino being the beef capital of…
old-fashioned approach reaps rewards
https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/kyogle_country_Store_002.jpg 1000 667 In Good Company | Northern Rivers In Good Company | Northern Rivers https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/kyogle_country_Store_002.jpgKyogle Country Store
It feels like a brave decision, buying a hardware and rural supplies store in the age of the corporate superstores. Though it was a challenge…





















