Published April 28, 2009 08:18 pm - Chapman’s Food Service, formerly located in the Harbor, has a new home to celebrate 30 years in business.
Chapman’s Food Service has a new spacious home
By ELLEN KOLMAN - Staff Writer - ekolman@starbeacon.com Star Beacon
ASHTABULA TOWNSHIP — Chapman’s Food Service, formerly located in the Harbor, has a new home to celebrate 30 years in business.
Chapman’s Food Service new location is 4135 State Road, in the former Moses Antique Mall.
Bob and Cathi Burnett, of Jefferson, bought the business from Herb Chapman in 1979.
“Bob always wanted his own business, and someone told him Chapman’s was available,” Cathi Burnett said.
In the beginning, Chapman’s was just an institutional food service, but in the early 1980s the economy was going through rough time, and Bob Burnett decided to fall back on his meat-cutting background and introduce fresh meat.
“Dad put in a 4-foot meat case, and the business just grew from there,” said Bill Burnett, general manager.
Today, Chapman’s Food Service is still an institutional food service that offers cut meats and so much more, including produce, breads, Scribblers Coffee Co. coffee line, milk, eggs, cheeses, lunch meats and a bakery featuring specialty breads, pies and rolls, which will open soon.
There is also a variety of meat packages for people on a budget.
“We needed to make this move. This is a better location with a lot more room,” Bill Burnett said. “Now, we have a meat cutting area, a large roomy store and office space.”
Chapman’s, which has been state-inspected to service restaurants and institutions, now has an on-site inspector from the Ohio Department of Agriculture.
“We are the only meat market in Ashtabula with an on-site state inspector,” Bill Burnett said.
Growing up, the Burnett children were used to helping out in the family business, and three of the children came on board full time, using their own special talents in different areas of the business.
Jacque Burnett joined the business in 1985 in sales and office managing. She also has used her creative genius to create award-winning meat and cheese platters over the years at the Ohio State Meat Processors Association conventions.
“I really enjoy my job, especially our customers, and putting together the meat and cheese trays,” Jacque Burnett said.
Rob Burnett, who died of cancer in 2005, developed Chapman’s sausage recipes and was in charge of the meat department.
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