Meat & Poultry -- December 2013 - 51

By Bryan Salvage
bsalvage@sosland.com

M

ention the word "duck" at any

offers nutrition, diagnostics, research,

of time and resources developing new,

industry gathering these days

management and other services to in-

value-added products. People thought

and chances are someone will bring up

ternational duck breeding stock cus-

we could drive consumption by in-

"Duck Dynasty." This popular A&E

tomers. MLF's subsidiary, Eurasia

creasing the head of duck we sell. Now,

reality television program chronicles

Feather Co., Grand Rapids, Mich.,

it's how many portions of duck can

the lives and business of the color-

markets upscale down and feather

we sell? If we can get someone to try

ful Robertson family of West Mon-

products to manufacturers, interior

duck just once, we think that will drive

roe, La., who became wealthy making

designers and institutions globally.

consumption [through repeat sales]. I

products for duck hunters. But when

see growth happening through devel-

it comes to North American duck

High-end duck products

oping innovative products like duck

products, Leesburg, Ind.-based Ma-

Maple Leaf Farms' high-quality duck-

bacon, duck potstickers and pulled

ple Leaf Farms is far more appropri-

meat products range from traditional

duck meat."

ate to hold this distinctive title.

whole-body duck to value‐added deli-

MLF duck products include whole

"We're the first Duck Dynasty!

cacies, such as fully cooked roast half

duck, ready-to-cook; fully cooked

We have been in business a lot longer

duck, duck sausage and duck appetiz-

roast half duck; ready-to-cook and ful-

than they have," jokes John Tucker,

ers. Duck product sales represent ap-

ly cooked duck breast; ready-to-cook

co-president of Maple Leaf Farms.

proximately 90 percent of the compa-

and fully cooked duck legs; duck ap-

John manages sales and marketing,

ny's business while chicken product

petizers; and other duck products, in-

while his co-president brother, Scott,

sales account for 10 percent of total

cluding ground duck sausage, ground

heads up operations. Named co-pres-

revenue. Sales to foodservice represent

duck meat, rendered duck fat and duck

idents in 2001, both are sons of chair-

approximately 65 percent of compa-

bacon, which joined its foodservice

man and CEO Terry Tucker - son-in-

ny sales, retail grocery sales account

product selection in September 2012.

law of the late Donald Wentzel who

for approximately 20 percent of total

Value-added chicken products include

founded the company in 1958.

revenue, export sales to more than 30

Milford Valley brand stuffed chicken

Maple Leaf Farms is a vertically-

countries account for 15 percent of

entrées, stuffed minis, stuffed sticks,

integrated, global duck-breeding and

annual sales revenues, while sales of

patties, strips and nuggets.

duck-meat products powerhouse. It

breeding stock and support services

Duck bacon, developed by Kent

is a leading North American proces-

through INDUX continue growing.

Thrasher, MLF's director of R&D

sor of quality fresh and value-add-

The North American duck-meat

who once worked for Oscar Mayer's

ed Pekin duck meat products, plus

market is estimated at around $200

bacon division, is very successful. The

it processes chicken products for do-

million. Although MLF doesn't pub-

product is cured, naturally Applewood

mestic and global markets. It is also

licize its sales, it is No. 1 in this mar-

smoked and cooks in minutes. Made

the leading global breeder of Pekin

ket - and its sales continue growing.

exclusively with boneless breast meat,

duck. And MLF markets innovative,

Innovative products help drive

duck bacon has 57 percent less fat than

natural, animal-health products and

sales. "In the past, we primarily sold

traditional pork bacon. Thrasher and

services through its Biotech division

whole-body ducks plus a few parts,"

his staff also developed the company's

and the company's integrated duck-

John Tucker says. "In the past seven

new, successful ground-duck meat and

production system, INDUX. INDUX

years, we spent an inordinate amount

pulled-duck meat offerings.

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