Certified Angus Beef and Schmacon partnership: Schmacon Waves
Certified Angus Beef LLC and Schmacon are partnering to bring the innovative uncured beef slices more visibility, higher-grade quality and better distribution across the globe.
Three years ago at the National Restaurant Association (NRA) Show in Chicago, the talk of the show in the meat and poultry arena was the launch of Schmacon, self-proclaimed as “Beef’s Answer to Bacon” by Howard Bender, CEO of Schmaltz Retail Products and his Naperville, Ill., team. Traffic to the small-ish Schmacon booth was heavy, the atmosphere quite festive, and the word on the street was mostly positive, bolstered by Schmacon winning a FABI (Food and Beverage Innovation) Award from the NRA that year.
Soon after, Schmacon began a national rollout plan, focused primarily on foodservice, but also including retail. Expansion of the product was methodical but steady, until early 2017, when a partnership with Certified Angus Beef LLC was formally announced with the launch of Certified Angus Beef-branded Uncured Beef Slices (Schmacon). The partnership has given Schmacon a big boost, and what follows are interviews with both partners: Bender of Schmaltz Retail Products, and Brett Erickson, director, Value-Added Products for the beef brand.