Universal Foods Co., the specialty meat snack manufacturer, has officially announced its new name: Golden Island Jerky Co. As the updated division of Formosa Meat Co., an industry-leading manufacturer and innovator of beef and pork jerky with more than 60 years of culinary experience, Golden Island has emerged to better represent the company’s high-quality offerings. Introducing the new name and logo is the first step in a complete brand overhaul which will also include new product packaging, product line extensions, and an overall new look and feel. The brand refresh will include the launch of a new website, updated broker programs, and a comprehensive marketing and public relations campaign to support the new direction and expand the brand’s reach to retail outlets and consumers throughout the United States.

“Our primary goal is to deliver unique and delicious flavors from around the world through gourmet jerky products made here in America,” said Anna Kan, president and CEO of Golden Island Jerky Co. “Just as we continue to innovate with unique flavor combinations, this brand refresh and the formal introduction of Golden Island will help build an image and deliver the messaging necessary to set us apart from the common jerky found in convenient stores. “This brand overhaul is consistent with our need to innovate with new flavors of jerky and was a needed step in expanding our products into new markets and further allowing people to better recognize Golden Island.”

The name Golden Island was chosen as an homage to the brand’s Asian heritage and parent company, Formosa Meat Co. Formosa is what Portuguese settlers called the island of Taiwan when they discovered it in 1544, translated from Portuguese to English it means Beautiful Island. Golden Island is also both memorable and unique, further distinguishing the brand from others in the marketplace.

Golden Island is an extension of Formosa Meat Co., a third-generation business that began in Taiwan in 1952 and quickly gained popularity in the Asian marketplace. The brand expanded to the U.S. in 1982 and the company has experienced significant growth year after year. Golden Island’s success is attributed to a variety of factors including consistently delivering high-quality meat snacks and innovative flavor combinations. Golden Island’s products are produced at their 30,000 square foot facility in Rancho Cucamonga, using only 100 percent whole cuts of beef and pork, and features more than 20 unique flavors of gourmet jerky including: Mandarin Orange, Cabernet Rosemary and Chardonnay Thyme. Additionally, Golden Island was the first large-scale manufacturer in the United States to introduce pork jerky products.

“With this brand overhaul and expansion into new markets, we’re excited to give more people the chance to try our flavorful and tender varieties of beef and pork jerky. We’re confident that once people try our products they’ll love it!” said Kan.

The company has experienced significant sales growth of nearly 220 percent between 2008 and 2011, in spite of the recent recession. As part of Golden Island’s continued growth in 2011 the company has invested $1million into their current facility and machinery.

Source: Golden Island Jerky Co.