Readfield Meats & Deli: “Meat” the Ruffinos

People in Bryan recognize the big red steer off Texas Avenue. The steer marks the location for Readfield Meats & Deli and people passing down the street know the steer represents some of the best meats and service in the area. Their customers attribute the long success of the business to the experience of the Ruffino brothers – Richard, Larry, and Roland – and the unique products and services they provide.

The Ruffino family has an established history in the meat business. John and Virginia Ruffino, whose families were from Sicily, settled in Bryan as first-generation Americans. They owned a “mom-and-pop” grocery store on West 21st Street and later a wholesale meat company in downtown Bryan, Readfield Meats.

The first location was originally operated strictly as a meat wholesale business. But as business began to grow, so did the opportunities to serve the public. In 1968, Mr. Ruffino began retail service and moved to the current location on the corner of Texas Avenue and Mitchell Street. The three Ruffino brothers assumed leadership of the business while maintaining their father’s original goals: to provide quality products as a fair price with personal attention to the shopper.

In addition to regular deli items and fresh-sliced sandwich meats, Readfield’s has an extensive line of USDA Choice and Prime beef, Midwest, grain-fed pork, fresh poultry, and lamb and veal. Also, Readfield’s provides a complete service counter to custom-cut products to customers’ needs.

Readfield’s specializes in sausages and smoked meat products. Fresh Italian sausage is made from a family recipe. Other sausages include smoked country-style sausage, summer sausage, hot links and bratwurst. Smoked bacon, smoked turkeys, and spiral-sliced honey-glazed hams are also specialties of the store.

Other specialty items include a large assortment of domestic and imported cheeses, imported olives, olive oils and pastas. A new line has recently been added of frozen Cajun entrees, including stuffed chicken, turducken, and deep-fried turkeys.

In addition to Readfield Meats & Deli, the Ruffino brothers own and operate Ruffino Meats and Food Service, a wholesale meat processor and food distribution company serving the Brazos Valley and Central Texas. The Ruffino family appreciates the continued support and patronage of the communities of Bryan and College Station.

Article courtesy The Eagle newspaper. Originally online at this address:
http://www.theeagle.com/businesstechnology/focusonfamilybusiness/2002/15.htm