The Margan Ave store, which opened in 2008, took home a trove of top honours including three gold medals at last years’ 100% New Zealand Bacon and Ham Awards.
Owner Reuben Sharples said the incident was particularly upsetting given the butcher’s strong focus on “backing the community”, including regular donations to food banks and families “doing it tough”.
“We work bloody hard,” he wrote.
“We’re here to feed the community… not be taken from by it.”
Reuben Sharples, owner/operator of Aussie Butcher New Lynn.
Sharples added that the store frequently supports grassroots sport, supplying pre-cooked sausages at cost to help teams fundraise.
“Just this week alone, more than 10 community sports teams have asked us for donations.”
Facebook users flooded the comments with messages of support, praising the butcher’s “amazing” community involvement and condemning the theft.
“You guys work so hard to run an awesome business and you’re always doing great things for the community,” one wrote, calling the incident sad and unfair.
Aussie Butcher New Lynn was targeted by a shoplifter. Photo / Facebook
Another commenter said they had attended an event the butcher had generously supported, adding it was “shocking” people would steal when help was readily available.
The store, which claims to be Google’s number-one rated butcher in Auckland, said it understood many people were struggling, but shoplifting was not the answer.
“There are places to go. There is help available,” the post said.
“Come and talk to us. Talk to someone. But don’t steal from small local businesses trying to do the right thing.”
In 2021, the Herald named Aussie Butcher New Lynn owner Reuben Sharples a Lockdown Hero for offering to help cut meat at New World Green Bay, a competitor, after staff were isolating because of Covid lockdown conditions.