How It All Started
John Leahy was a grocery store butcher with a vision: he wanted to run his own shop where he could guarantee quality, deliver superior service, and offer real value to his customers. Rita was a school teacher who did everything else...wrapping meat, answering phones, managing books, and making deliveries.
Together, they started small, in a barn on the outskirts of town. Customers responded to what they did from day one, and in 1967, they moved to John's family farmland on Highway 50 in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. That same property remains LGCM's home today.
From a Barn to a Full-Service Market
What started as a custom processing exclusive shop grew into much more. Over the decades, we added retail cuts, developed our award-winning sausage program, expanded into wholesale, and built a market that helps you put together a full meal.
We did all of this while continuing the custom processing services that we started with and offering wild game processing for hunters from near & far.
Today, LGCM is still family-owned and operated. The third generation of Leahys runs the business in conjunction with a talented and dedicated team. We're members of the Wisconsin Meat Hall of Fame, and our products have won 230+ awards at state, national, and international competitions.
The Team That Keeps The Dream Going
What Makes Us Different
Why You Should Shop LGCM
Cut at the Counter
Walk up, tell us what you need, and watch us cut it right in front of you. No pre-wrapped trays, no guesswork — just the exact cut you asked for, the way you want it.
Sourced For Quality
We're selective about what comes through our door. Every supplier is held to our standards for consistency, quality, and the kind of product we'd put our name on.
Crafted In-House
Our sausages, brats, and smoked meats are made right here: hundreds of varieties, developed over decades of competing and winning at the highest levels.
Full Service, Whole Animal.
We don't just sell cuts, we process whole animals in our own USDA-inspected facility. That's a level of skill and capability most shops simply don't have.
Our Promise
What We Believe
We will never sell you something we wouldn't feed our own families.
We want to help you confidently make awesome meals, no matter your skill level, your budget, or how much time you've got.
We believe in doing things the way John and Rita taught us, with integrity, compassion, and a commitment to always getting better.
Award-Winning for Decades
Major Recognition
Ehrenpokal Trophy
2025, 2019 & 2016 — Three-time recipients of the Honorary Trophy of the German Butchers' Association at the DFV-AAMP IFFA Quality Competition for Sausage & Ham in Frankfurt, Germany.
Business of the Year
2025 — Visit Lake Geneva Impact Awards. Recognized for contributions to the Lake Geneva community and regional economy.
R.W. Bray Award — Best of Show
2015 — Best of Show for Ultimate Bacon. The highest honor at the Wisconsin Cured Meat Championships.
Meritorious Service Award
2023 — Kathy & Scott Vorpagel. Awarded by the Wisconsin Cured Meat Championships for outstanding service and dedication to the meat industry.
Excellence in Manufacturing
2023, 2018, 2014 — Wisconsin Cured Meat Championships Award for most overall points in competition. Won 3 times.
Wisconsin Meat Hall of Fame
John and Rita Leahy — Inducted for lifetime achievement and foundational contributions to Wisconsin's meat industry.
Year-by-Year Award History
We've been competing — and winning — since the 1970s. Click to expand each year.
Wisconsin Specialty Meat Championships (12): 1 Grand Champion (Skinless Wieners) • 4 Reserve Grand Champions (Bourbon Cured & Smoked Flank Steak; Bourbon Bacon; Bologna; Smoked Traditional Bratwurst) • 4 Champions (Braunschweiger; Emulsified Ring Bologna; BBQ Beef Strips; Semi-Boneless Ham) • 3 Reserve Champions (Bone-In Ham; Smoked Kielbasa; Smoked Andouille)
DFV-AAMP IFFA Quality Competition for Sausage & Ham (21): Ehrenpokal Trophy • 16 Gold Medals (BBQ Beef Strips; Boneless Ham; Bourbon Smoked Flank Steak; Cooked Bratwurst; Cheddar & Green Pepper Brat; Cured & Smoked Bacon; Cured & Smoked Flank Steak; Jalapeño & Cheddar Snack Sticks; Old Fashioned Jerky; Skinless Wieners; Smoked Andouille; Smoked Bacon Cheddar Jalapeño Brat; Smoked Cheddarwurst; Summer Sausage Snack Sticks; Sweet Whiskey Peppercorn Snack Sticks; Wieners) • 3 Silver Medals • 1 Bronze Medal
American Cured Meat Championships (1): Grand Champion — Wieners (Coarse Ground)
Wisconsin Cured Meat Championships (17): 4 Grand Champions (Smoked Flank Steak; Chorizo; Cherry Ham Loaf; Teriyaki Jerky) • 1 Reserve Grand Champion (Bacon) • 3 Champions • 3 Reserve Champions • 6 Honorable Mentions
DFV-AAMP IFFA Quality Competition for Sausage & Ham (25): Ehrenpokal Trophy • 14 Gold Medals (Bacon; Cheddar & Jalapeño Brat; Cooked Bratwurst; Cheddar & Green Pepper Brat; Portabella & Swiss Brat; Smoked Polish Sausage; Old Fashioned Jerky; Sweet Bourbon Jerky; Teriyaki Jerky; Cheddar Bites; Jalapeño & Cheddar Snack Sticks; Smoked Bacon; Black Pepper Bacon; Bone-In Ham) • 8 Silver Medals • 2 Bronze Medals
Wisconsin Cured Meat Championships (12): 3 Grand Champions (Skinless Wieners; Snack Sticks; Ring Bologna) • 2 Reserve Grand Champions • 4 Champions • 1 Reserve Champion • 2 Honorable Mentions
State Fair (4): 1 Grand Champion • 1 Reserve Grand Champion • 1 Champion • 1 Reserve Champion
Wisconsin Cured Meat Championships (11): 1 Grand Champion (BBQ Beef Strips) • 1 Reserve Grand Champion • 4 Champions • 3 Reserve Champions • 2 Honorable Mentions
DFV-AAMP IFFA Quality Competition for Sausage & Ham (12): Ehrenpokal Trophy • 10 Gold Medals (BBQ Beef Strips; Cooked Bratwurst; Cheddar & Green Pepper Brat; Portabella & Swiss Brat; Liver Sausage; Smoked Bacon; Smoked Bacon Cheddar Jalapeño Brat; Smoked Cheddarwurst; Smoked Flank Steak; Ultimate Bacon) • 1 Silver Medal
Wisconsin Cured Meat Championships (12): 3 Grand Champions (BBQ Beef Strips; Liver Sausage; Bacon Supreme) • 2 Reserve Grand Champions • 2 Champions • 2 Reserve Champions • 3 Honorable Mentions
State Fair (4): 1 Grand Champion • 1 Reserve Grand Champion • 1 Champion • 1 Reserve Champion
From Our Customers
Been going here almost weekly for 30 years. Excellent preparation, knowledgeable staff, great selections. You would have to search long and hard for better beef or pork cuts.
The meat and other products are fresh, priced great, and the staff is so friendly. I drive here from Fox Lake, Illinois once a month. They have all types of meat and Wisconsin cheeses.
Fantastic selection, quality, and customer service. Butcher did a custom cut of Butt Steak for our family barbecue that grilled up so delicious. When in Lake Geneva this is a must stop.
This place is so good. You know you're getting quality at a decent price. All the staff is kind, considerate, helpful and patient.
Quality meats and wide selection of top tier cheeses for snacking or any party where you want guests asking where you got these. I picked up ribeyes cut to 1.5 inches... so tender and delicious.
Very knowledgeable and friendly staff. A lot of different flavors of Brats, competitive pricing to a large box store, fresh meats, poultry, and pork. The staff goes above and beyond to help the customers.
First time purchasing a whole beef and hog. Excellent customer service. Pricing is fair. Would definitely recommend.
LGCM in the Press
Giving Back Since 1965
