MEAT+POULTRY - August 2024 - 16

DELI REPORT
" Inflation is a huge issue nowadays from
purchasing to finding help, " Barthel said.
" Hopefully it gets better in the future. "
Early on, the company survived the Great
Depression in Germany and then World War
II. The COVID-19 pandemic caused the whole
world struggles, but the family-oriented nature
of German Sausage Co. allowed the business to
survive these trials and others.
" We are lucky in this aspect, " Barthel said.
Traditional German
deli meats and smoked
meats are a specialty at
German Sausage Co.
our products, " Barthel said, and then the
company debones and prepares everything
for processing.
GERMAN MASTERY
Wursts go back to the 1700s in Germany, and
German delis in the United States gained in
popularity in the 1800s as German citizens
began immigrating to the United States. With
the same recipes and processes handed down
over seven generations, German Sausage
Co. reinforces its authenticity through
in-house training and training abroad.
" All butchers have their masters from
Germany, " Barthel said.
Most of German Sausage Co.'s business
comes from its retail store (70%). Wholesale
business and online sales both represent 15%
each. The most popular SKUs at the company
are Lyoner, a German bologna; Jagwurst, a
coarser bologna; Bierschinken, a ham bologna;
and Bierwurst, a garlic bologna.
The company also sells a large number of
different sausages including, but not limited
to, Hausmacher Blutwurst links, a farmer-style
blood sausage made with beef and pork blood,
stuffed in beef casings with onion and garlic
that is smoke dried in both links and a ring; a
Landjaeger beef stick made with lean Angus
beef cuts and bacon trim; a Nurnberger pork
breakfast patty, as well as a Cervelat Germanstyle
salami made with beef and pork, just to
name a few. German Sausage Co. also offers
smoked meats by the pound. German grocery
items include breads and baking mixes.
PERSERVERANCE
Through the generations of the family,
German Sausage Co. has been able to
overcome challenges. Today's economic
climate being the most recent, inflation
being the most prominent obstacle.
16 MEAT+POULTRY | 08.24 | www.meatpoultry.com
" We are all
family, so in
good and bad
times we have all
dug in deep to
keep the family
tradition and
company alive. "
- MICHAEL BARTHEL
" We are all family, so in good and bad times
we have all dug in deep to keep the family
tradition and company alive. "
In addition to Barthel, Master Butcher,
German Sausage Co.'s family members include
Jorg Scherz, Master Butcher and Brian Barthel,
first-year apprentice sausage maker. Working
at the deli counter are Annetta Scherz, Angie
and Heidi Barthel. They prepare orders for
customers, package and ship. Heidi Barthel
also handles online shipping orders and regular
shipping, while butchers and sausage makers
break down meat, work the chopper and
stuffers, and weigh custom blends of spices.
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MEAT+POULTRY - August 2024

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