The meat counter at G&M Family Market cuts and wraps fresh beef, pork, and chicken right in the store. Ground beef is ground here rather than trucked in already packaged, and the grind is done through the week so the case stays fresh. This is a full-service meat counter, so if you do not see what you want, someone can cut it for you.

What’s at the meat counter

On any given day you will find steaks, roasts, pork chops, chicken breasts and thighs, whole chickens, and house sausage. Family packs are out for shoppers buying for the week, and there are smaller portions when you only need dinner for two. Alongside the fresh meat, the case carries bacon, hot dogs, kielbasa, and smoked deli-style meats. Grab a few sides from produce and you have most of dinner in one lap around the store.

Ask for a custom cut

If you do not see the cut you want, or you want a thicker steak, a particular roast, or a bigger quantity for a party or a freezer order, ask the person behind the meat counter. They will cut and wrap it while you finish the rest of your shopping. This is the part of the store where it pays to talk to someone. The cutters know what came in that morning and what is about to go on special.

Weekly deals

Meat is a regular feature in the weekly flyer, and the counter almost always has a few marked-down packages worth a look, especially toward the end of the day. Prices move with what the store buys, so the sales change week to week. Regulars check the flyer before they come in and watch for the meat deals G&M runs to pull people through the door.

In the warmer months the department leans into grilling. That is when you will see items you do not find at every market, including bacon-wrapped corn that is prepped and ready to go straight on the grill, plus marinated chicken and pork and ready-made kabobs. If you are cooking for a crowd, call ahead at (207) 843-6422 and the counter can set aside what you need or grind a custom blend for burgers.

Buying for the freezer

If you stock a freezer, the meat counter can put together bulk orders of ground beef, chicken, or pork chops in the quantity you want, wrapped in meal-size packs so you are not thawing ten pounds at once. Ask what is coming in on sale and time a freezer order around it. The cutters can also break down larger cuts into the portions you use most, which usually costs less per pound than buying each one separately. Give them a heads-up for anything big so it is ready when you come in, and round out the order with staples from the grocery aisles.