Meat+Poultry - March 2022 - SUPP-17

The production of bacon is something that
works particularly well for these two types of
meat processing operations.
sliced bacon. We're vertically integrated now,
because our two Iowa plants are only 25 miles
apart, " Jackson explained.
" The reason bacon especially is cut out well
for co-manufacturing and private labeling is
because many processors who would like to sell
bacon have a shortage of capacity for making it.
So, it works out very well for people like us and
our business to make bacon for other meat companies
who can't do it on their own, " Jackson
pointed out.
" And it fits wonderfully in the two major arenas
where bacon is sold - foodservice for restaurants
and hotels, and retail sales in groceries
and supermarkets, " Jackson explained.
" Monogram's lifeblood is making other folks'
products and brands for them. The fact is many
bacon producers have a network of bacon suppliers
like us that help them meet the demand
for their bacon products. "
And there's certainly no doubt that there continues
to be a major demand for bacon. In fact,
many people say it is the most popular meat of
all. " Well, I guess that is opinion, " Jackson said
with a smile. " I don't know if it is the most popular,
but it is a very popular meat and it has been
around for a long time. It is certainly the most
popular breakfast meat, and it has become an
enhancement for burgers. In fact, bacon has
become a big enhancement for a lot of foods, as
well as toppings for foods like pizza and others, "
he pointed out.
MEETING DEMAND
The demand has become so great that Monogram
realized it had an opportunity to expand its bacon
production. So, this past year, it acquired Quality
Food Processors, in Denison, Iowa, a co-packer
and a major bacon manufacturer in its own right,
to help meet the call for bacon. The Denison facility
is now a Monogram Foods plant.
Monogram already owns and operates a prepared
bacon plant in Harlan, Iowa, manufacturing
pre-cooked and par-cooked bacon of all
shapes and sizes for restaurant chains and major
grocery stores. The facility has five fully integrated
microwave cooking lines, and robotic slicing
capabilities.
" We've had a pre-cooked and par-cooked
bacon plant in Harlan. And Quality Food
Processors has been the supplier of our bellies
for bacon. So, it made sense to acquire QFP,
because it gives us diversification in our bacon
business. Now we've expanded that to raw,
MEAT+POULTRY 2022 BACON TRENDS + TECHNOLOGY
17
Acquiring a former supplier reflects
Monogram's continued commitment to expanding
its business by joining with companies that
share similar values.
Monogram owns and
operates a bacon
plant in Harlan, Iowa,
which manufactures
pre-cooked and
par-cooked bacon.
The company makes whatever kind of bacon
its customers want, but pork bacon, pumped and
cured, is where the greatest demand lies.
Bacons include retail sliced bacon, big slabs
in a stack pack, which is sliced down the line.
The stack pack is vertical, from a sliced belly.
Meat+Poultry - March 2022

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