Chicago, IL – A year ago, it seemed Moo & Oink was lost forever much to the regret of fans of the brand. But a hero stepped up to the plate – Best Chicago Meat Co., LLC. It purchased Moo & Oink’s intellectual property on Dec. 14, 2011, including the name, logo, characters, website, catchy commercial jingle and perhaps most important – its recipes.
Twelve months have passed. Today, more than 30 Moo & Oink products are found in 300 stores in four states – Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin and Michigan. Jewel-Osco and Wal-Mart are the biggest retailers to carry the brand as well as many independent grocers.
“We knew we had a tremendous opportunity to maintain and enhance the presence of Moo & Oink in Chicago area retailers as well as to grow the brand,” said David L. Van Kampen, president and COO of Best Chicago Meat. “It’s been very gratifying to see this happen.”
Robert M. Beavers, Jr., is chairman and CEO of Best Chicago Meat. A year ago, he made plans to produce and enhance the Moo & Oink products and get them back on grocery shelves as quickly as possible without sacrificing excellence or reliability.
“Moo & Oink was a staple in the African American community in Chicago,” Beavers said, “and now I’m proud to say it’s a staple again. By bringing Moo & Oink products to more than 300 grocery stores, we’ve introduced the brand to many more people and found success in new communities.”
Highlights of Moo & Oink’s first year include:
- Phase one product launch consisted of 27 items in more than 200 grocery stores.
- More than 50 truckloads of product have been shipped to grocery stores.
- Development of a new commercial playing off the iconic TV ad
- Introduction of a new character – Gobble – to represent poultry products and the expansion of turkey offerings
- Participation in Real Men Cook, the annual Father’s Day celebration of family, community and fatherhood
- Participation in the WGN Annual Back-to-School Fair
Moo & Oink products available include rib tips; all beef hotdogs; a variety of pork, beef and turkey hot links; pork and beef bacon; beef patties; breakfast sausage; and chicken products like nuggets, tenders and breast patties. In addition, Moo & Oink’s High Five BBQ sauce has been reintroduced.
Newest on Chicagoland grocery shelves are Moo & Oink Chitterlings. Chitterlings are commonly referred to as chits or chit’lins.
“We know chitterlings were very popular in Chicago and have been missed during the last year,” Van Kampen said. “We took the time to perfect our process, and now we can offer chits for the holidays.”
Best Chicago Meat’s commitment to customers goes well beyond delicious products, impeccably clean facilities and the highest standards in food safety. The company is proud to manufacture in a Chicago neighborhood and operates under a strict policy of energy conservation and waste reduction. At Best Chicago Meat, clean and green are fundamental.
In addition, the company is committed to the communities it serves by supporting activities such as youth sports programs, a high school intern program, community events and local and regional festivals. Best Chicago Meat stands strongly behind its customers by supporting local programs that promote family and neighborhood values.
Moo & Oink, LLC, is a joint venture between Best Chicago Meat Company and Dutch Farms. For more information visit: http://www.moo-oink.com.
Source: Best Chicago Meat