At a gala presentation evening held at Revesby Workers Club on Wednesday 14 May, Kahil Meats Bass Hill was crowned the winner of the ‘Outstanding Butcher’ category at the Canterbury-Bankstown Local Business Awards for the fifth consecutive year.

Kahil Meats’ ongoing domination of this category is testament to a family legacy rooted in community service that began half a century ago.   

These days fronted by Bill Kahil and Sam Chami, Kahil Meats Bass Hill Plaza butchery has become a household name.

Speaking about this latest achievement, Bill Kahil was quick to share the credit.

“This award isn’t just about Sam and me,” Mr Kahil said.

 “It belongs to our entire team who work tirelessly every day, as their passion is what makes the difference.”

“And as for our customers, we are incredibly humbled; they are the reason we do what we do.”

This most recent award of the five in a row, once again confirms Kahil Meats’ consistent excellence, an achievement also formally recognised in the NSW Parliament for their 2022 victory.

Flashback: Anis Kahil at his Yangoora Rd, Lakemba butchery, in the late 1970s.

The success story began in the mid to late 1970’s when Bill’s father Anis (aka Abu Khaled) hatched a plan to establish Lakemba’s pioneering halal butchery just around the corner from the Lebanese Muslim Association (LMA) and the under-construction Lakemba Mosque.

The iconic masjid would open its doors in 1977, while Kahil Meats Lakemba began trading at its Yangoora Rd site a year or two later.

“We’re just building on the foundations our parents laid,” Bill reflected. 

“My father had incredible foresight, setting up in Lakemba just as the community was growing.” 

“Dad (who is still very much hand-on at the Bass Hill site today) taught us that this is more than a business; it’s about serving people and being a part of their lives….the connection in many cases is just like family.”

“We owe everything to dad’s and mum’s hard work and vision.”

The Kahil Meats team, with Sam Chami and Bill Kahil at the front.

That original vision has cultivated a fiercely loyal customer base. 

“Some families have been with us for generations, and many travel from all over Sydney to keep that tradition alive,” Bill explained.

 “They come for the quality and for the connection, and we’re honoured to have that trust.”

As Bill points out, it takes a lot of planning and a lot of attention to detail to build the kind of loyalty that keeps the customers not only voting with their feet but voting for Kahil Meats Bass Hill as the leading local butchery, year after year.

“We never skimp on quality; we deal directly with farmers, sourcing the best pasture-fed lamb in Australia consistently all year round and in terms of beef, we are big believers in the ‘paddock to plate’ concept.”

“And we also have a full-time marketing team.”

Kahil Meats’ commitment to the community extends way beyond the shop counter. 

With great humility, the Kahil family are also known for their generous sponsorship of local organisations and events.

Over the years, they’ve partnered with charities like Brothers In Need and Community Care Kitchen to provide meat hampers for families who are struggling and have supported countless other community gatherings.

This dedication to giving back, quietly and without fanfare, has seen them recognised with a ‘Local Hero Award’ for their exceptional service and earned them praise for their grassroots support.

“Not just through the business but also through our involvement with worthy causes and the community, we have made lifetime friends such as Brothers In Need founder Dean Mousad and many others,” Bill said.

Bill Kahil is also known for being outspoken on important community issues, the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza being a cause particularly close to his heart.

The Kahil family’s journey from a single shop in a developing community hub to a multi-award-winning enterprise is a story of hard work, family values and steadfast dedication to serving the community that has supported them from the very beginning.

They deserve every bit of success that comes their way.