Articles by Sam Gazdziak

Lineup of Airplanes
Special Report | Top 100 Processors

2019 Top 100 meat and poultry processors: Holding pattern

After several years of record sales and optimism, meat and poultry processors featured in our annual Top 100 Processors Report display a more cautious outlook for the industry.
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Sam Gazdziak
May 20, 2019
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In recent years, our annual Top 100 Processors Report was littered with constant references to record sales, best years ever and rosy outlooks for the future. That has, at least temporarily, come to a halt in the 2019 edition, as processors are realizing they face slower sales and looming problems.
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Sausage Smokehouse

Smokehouse strategies

Proper loading and maintenance can help keep a smokehouse at peak performance.
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Sam Gazdziak
April 29, 2019
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Smokehouses, if properly maintained, can have long lifespans. The latest models do come with new technology that can be beneficial to the operator.
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Andrzej Skiba, President and Co-Founder of Skiba Meat Company
Special Report | Mission to Poland

Mission to Poland: Part Two

The tour and lessons about the European meat industry continues for Independent Processor editor Sam Gazdziak.
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Sam Gazdziak
April 26, 2019
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When not participating in seminars on European exports and North American consumer trends, the guests of the Union of Producers and Employers of Meat Industry (UPEMI) were able to walk around Warsaw.
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Emily Strunk, Associate, Mayer Brown Law Firm

Small meat processors and federal regulation

Working with Washington: Small processors sometimes struggle with the regulatory environment, though there have been victories for common sense.
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Sam Gazdziak
April 22, 2019
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Federal regulation is a necessary part of any meat or poultry processor that wants to sell products outside of its home state. Both sides have the same goal in mind — produce the safest food for the American public.
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Duck Meat
Independent Processor's Prime Cuts

Culver Duck: Shaking up the duck market

Duck user-friendly products and an animal welfare certification make Culver Duck a good fit with today's consumers.
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Sam Gazdziak
April 17, 2019
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Duck is a popular choice for restaurant diners who want to try something different. It's one of the few proteins where the most popular usage is in the foodservice sector.
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International Quality Competition for Sausage and Ham Judges

Entering cured meat competitions

The thrill of competition: Cured meat competitions could prove a good learning experience and a great marketing tool.
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Sam Gazdziak
April 16, 2019
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Meat competitions are friendly, to be sure. However, the word "competition" should not be overlooked, as many of these state or national events bring together high-quality processors with strong reputations.
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