Meat + Poultry - October 2016 - 37

S M A L L B U S I N E S S M AT T E R S

For most small plants, that would be
In addition, Den's Country Meats captured
"I know we
the end of the story...at least the part about
the "Best of Show" award two years ago for
could double
how the business was built and grew. But
its large diameter sandwich bologna. Over the
or triple our
for Dennis Schaardt, there is an entire other
years, the business has also earned top awards
dimension - service.
in the American Cured Meat Championships
business with
He has been the mayor of Table Rock and
sponsored by the American Association of Meat
more workers,
Processors (AAMP). This year Schaardt entered Chairman of the Board of Commissioners for
but you cannot
Pawnee County the past four years. He has
products at the International Meat Trades Fair
also interfaced with nearly 400 youngsters in
under the banner of the German Butchers
believe how
4-H groups and Future Farmers of America
Association and brought home gold medals for
tough it is
councils, supporting meat judging programs
his ring bologna and hot dogs.
to find good
and cutting demonstrations both in the plant
The transformations made in his business
and at other educational venues.
continue. He and his daughter Courtney
people who
He is also a winner of AAMP's Golden
recently began using Food Safe Pro!, a
want to work."
Cleaver Award for sponsoring the most
computer-based software program used to
- DENNIS SCHAARDT
members in that group in a year and is the
monitor and document their HACCP program.
only twice-elected president AAMP has had
He has also invested in equipment that makes
in its 77-year history. He and Kim earned
production easier, including a Handtmann
AAMP's Accomplishment Award in 1996
stuffer that lifts product to make employee
tasks easier and this summer installed a 500-lb., for their company growth, innovation and
industry service, and the group's Outstanding
one-truck Scott Pec smokehouse.
Service Award in 2006 for their dedication and
Despite the equipment updates, Schaardt
leadership of the association.
still finds his most difficult job is finding good
employees.
"I know we could double or
triple our business with more
workers," he adds, "but you cannot
believe how tough it is to find good
with CES/Foodlogistik Dicers.
people who want to work."
Courtney works in Lincoln,
where she teaches agriculture
courses. She returns to Table Rock
* Fresh &
regularly to monitor and answer
Tempered Meat
the huge volume of Facebook and
* Poultry
social media messages the meat
* Cheese
shop generates.
* Roasting Meat
"We had a web site and actually
* Sausages
discontinued it," Schaardt says. "The
* Cold Cuts
social media approach gets us much
more results and has customers
Foodlogistik dicers are
* C120
* C90
talking about our business more
perfect dicing and portioning * C90+
* C140
than our website was able to call
of fresh or tempered frozen * C105
* C150
attention to our business."
meat (up to -4º)
* C105+
For the past five years, Kim
HABLAMOS ESPANOL LLAMAMOS HOY
has worked managing a medical
clinic, leaving little time for her
involvement in the family business.
Two sons, Colton, 20, doing an
internship at the Univ. of Nebraska
For more information contact: Don Ballein
in Lincoln, and Clayton, 16, both
CES/Foodlogistik U.S.A. * 2128 M So. Grove Ave.
assist with deliveries, working the
Ontario, CA 91761 U.S.A.
Please visit our website
Tel (909) 947-8511 * Fax (909) 627-0087
service counter and maintaining
Toll Free 1-888-278-0885
the retail area.
dballein@foodlogistik.com

Fast * Accurate Dicing!

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Meat + Poultry - October 2016

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