CHB Tidbits

CHB takes the spotlight at Meat & Eat

In March, Certified Hereford Beef (CHB^®) took part in an exciting opportunity to be introduced to Houston-area restaurants and caterers.

During the Jake’s Finer Foods Meat & Eat, current and potential customers were invited to the urbanCHEF to wine, dine and, most importantly, eat meat. The focus of this event was the proteins offered by Jake’s, as well as the capabilities of Gourmet Ranch in offering portion-cut steaks.

The Urban Kitchen atmosphere created a personalized experience for chefs and restaurant owners to ask questions and discover new possibilities, while four chefs prepared different proteins at each station.

2013 marks 67 years of business for family-owned Jake’s Finer Foods, which has grown into a leading full-service broadline distributor, offering a selection of nearly 10,000 products. Jake’s Finer Foods distributes to foodservice providers and restaurants in Texas and western Louisiana. To learn more, visit jakesfinerfoods.com.

Merchants expanded sales staff introduced to CHB

In March the newest additions to the Merchants Foodservice group, based out of the newly formed Tifton, Ga., office, were introduced to Certified Hereford Beef (CHB^®) product.

Mick Welch, CHB LLC vice president of sales, introduced the product and educated the new Merchants sales staff on the advantages and history of CHB.

In 2011, Merchants Foodservice, based out of Hattiesburg, Miss., was ranked 15th in the nation for foodservice distribution sales by Institutional Distributor magazine. It currently has units in Clanton, Ala.; Newberry, S.C.; Jackson, Miss.; and, most recently, Tifton, Ga.

Yoke’s achieves 10-million-lb. CHB sales milestone

Yoke’s Fresh Markets, Spokane Valley, Wash., was recently presented the 10-million-lb. Certified Hereford Beef (CHB^®) Bronze Bull Award.

Ken Chapin, Yoke’s meat and seafood director, says he appreciates CHB for its consistent quality.

“CHB is a good-eating beef that’s tender and consistent in size, and it performs well,” he says. “It’s been a strong program for us. What we say about it is true: it’s better eating, being more tender and more flavorful. And our customers agree.”

Chapin says Yoke’s customers appreciate the quality of the CHB product.

“We often hear from customers who love the flavor,” Chapin says. “They can tell a difference from other brands, and the response from our customers has been strong. We don’t get complaints on our beef — only compliments.”

A loyal CHB customer since 2000, Yoke’s operates 10 stores in Idaho and Washington. Yoke’s prides itself in offering fresh, local products from area farms and ranches, and remaining locally owned and active within the communities it serves.

Evans Meats earns fourth CHB million-lb. award

Evans Meats Inc., Birmingham, Ala., recently earned its fourth Certified Hereford Beef (CHB^®) million-lb. achievement.

Founded in 1998, Evans Meats specializes in fine meat and seafood products and serves customers from Nashville, Tenn., to Montgomery, Ala., to Jackson, Miss. Its primary customers consist of privately owned white-tablecloth restaurants, in addition to country clubs and private clubs.

CHB at the forefront with National Grocers Association

Certified Hereford Beef (CHB^®) made its mark at the 2013 National Grocers Association (NGA) Show held Feb. 10-13 at the Mirage Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, Nev.

During this event, CHB LLC staff answered questions and promoted the product to current and potential customers from across the country.

The NGA is the national trade association representing retail and wholesale grocers that comprise the independent sector of the food distribution industry.

Certified Hereford Beef hits the prime time

Certified Hereford Beef^® (CHB) made it to the primetime during the holiday season. The CHB rib roast and CHB District Manager Danielle Starr were featured in Hen House Market’s holiday ads in the Kansas City area.

“I was overwhelmed with excitement to take part in the Hen House commercial, along with Hen House managers, to promote CHB for the holidays,” Starr says.

Today, 28 stores fall under the Hen House Market and Ball’s Price Chopper names in the Kansas City metro area. Hen House is a longtime supporter and promoter of the CHB product.

Ridley’s expands the CHB brand

Certified Hereford Beef (CHB^®) retailer Ridley’s Family Market is expanding once again — this time, with the purchase of the Kohler's Marketplace in Highland, Utah.

This December takeover brings the total number of Ridley’s stores to 18 across Idaho, Nevada, Utah and Wyoming — all of which carry the CHB brand.

Ridley’s, a family-owned business since 1984, has been a CHB retailer since 2006 and is an active promoter of the product throughout their marketing and advertising campaigns.

Minnesota breeders enjoy CHB

On Dec. 7, the Minnesota Hereford breeders conducted their annual Gopher Sale and banquet in Hutchinson, Minn., during which Certified Hereford Beef^® was discussed and promoted by John Schiltz, the owner of Lake Elmo Inn, Lake Elmo, Minn., and the 2012 Minnesota Beef Backer award winner.

Nick Rausch, Greater Omaha Packing Co. Inc.; June Dunn, Sysco Minnesota center of the plate specialist, also were in attendance. During his presentation, Schiltz touted how CHB has been a great addition to his offering, Dunn says.

“John told the group of 120 breeders that CHB has changed his business since switching over earlier in 2012,” Dunn says. “Sysco Minnesota also displayed our CHB Million Pound Awards that we have achieved so far, and I thanked them for what they are doing as Hereford breeders.”

The evening before this banquet, 25 members were treated to a CHB steak dinner at Molly’s Café, Silver Lake, Minn.

Hunting for appreciation

Recently, Certified Hereford Beef (CHB^®) packer Greater Omaha Packing Co. Inc. showed its appreciation to Sysco Minnesota and Sysco Virginia. For their support of the CHB program, Greater Omaha treated these distributors with a pheasant hunt at Rausch Hereford Ranch in Hoven, S.D., and a CHB meal at Dakota Joe’s Café in Tolstoy, S.D.

Sysco achieves multi-million pounds of CHB sales

Sysco is finding great success with Certified Hereford Beef^®.

Sysco Minnesota was recently presented with its fourth Certified Hereford Beef^® million-pound achievement by Certified Hereford Beef (CHB) LLC, while Sysco Nashville reached the 2-million-pound milestone; and Sysco Baraboo and Sysco Hampton Roads each earned their first million-pound awards.

June Dunn, Sysco Minnesota center of the plate specialist, business resources, says Sysco has been pleased with Certified Hereford Beef^®’s consistent quality.

“Certified Hereford Beef^® is almost like an insurance policy, as I am confident with the quality of the product every time we sell a box,” she says. “We rarely have complaints. The price is also a huge factor. Using the Classic line gives us the ability to be very competitive in the market.”

This quality has led to satisfied customers, Dunn says.

“We receive overwhelmingly positive feedback,” she says. “I just never get tired of hearing, ‘That is the best steak I have ever eaten!’ We get numerous comments on how big the burger patties are. And very often I will hear, ‘This is what beef should really taste like.’”

In addition, Dunn says, the service Sysco receives is second to none.

“Greater Omaha Packing always goes out of their way to help us with any requests or problems that come up,” she says. “It is such a comfort to know they are our partners, as well. And Mick Welch, CHB LLC vice president of sales, is wealth of knowledge on the CHB line. I always look forward to working with him.”

Sysco has sales and service relationships with approximately 400,000 customers in the foodservice industry and operates from more than 180 locations throughout the U.S., Canada and Ireland. Sysco offers Certified Hereford Beef^® through its Baraboo, Wis.; Minneapolis, Minn.; Hampton Roads, Va.; Nashville, Tenn.; Boston, Mass.; and Ocoee, Fla., centers.