The tradition began in 1966 when Howard Halpern arrived in Atlanta to start his own perishable food distribution business. With a talent for anticipating industry needs, he became one of the first in the country to distribute boxed beef. A top-quality cut shop soon followed.

Halperns' The Gourmet Grocer, located in Lenox Square, followed in 1979 and resided in one of the country's first food courts. Halperns' The Gourmet Grocer was voted "best meat and seafood market" by the Atlanta public for four consecutive years. Then, in 1983, with five butchers, the Halpern family started a meat distribution company, with a drive and passion that was instrumental in revolutionizing the industry.