Meat&Poultry -- April 2014 - 22

JENSEN MEAT CO.

retail products, 20 percent food distribution products

best-sellers within each category. We were able to develop

and 15 percent restaurant products.

a better core assortment, a better lineup of products we

Newer Jensen-brand products include Bacon and Ched-

will be able to launch and offer our customers."

dar patties, Jalapeño patties, Swiss and mushroom patties,

How does Jensen differ from the competition? Transpar-

Chipotle and Monterey patties. "We manufacture a lot of

ency, Acuña iterates. "We have an open book on where our

different seasoned patties now that we didn't make in the

raw materials come from, who we use, and more," he says.

past," says Anthony Crivello, vice president of production.

Jensen Meat Co. uses various sources for raw materials, Olivera says. "Sometimes the customer specifies which

"We are always looking to be
more flexible and efficient...
having our new San Diego
production facility gives us
that ability."

raw materials or suppliers to use," he adds. "We're flexible.
We're always looking to increase our supply chain. How
we differ in how we do business now on the raw-materials
side is before we would call a supplier and say, 'We want
X amount'. Now, we're building relationships with those
suppliers. We encourage and push our buyers and our QA
staff to visit local and international slaughter facilities we

The key to developing a great business is specializing

use once or twice a year."

and Jensen's focus is on grinding, Olivera says, but further diversifying into other species is being considered.

Looking ahead

"There's a good possibility of expanding in pork and tur-

Jensen's major challenge for 2014 is securing its raw ma-

key. We don't count anything out," he says.

terial supply. "We see that shrinking," Olivera says. "We

Although Jensen doesn't currently export products, its

started having conversations on this topic five years ago

management team is working on landing international ac-

and now it's happening. We see a shrinking raw material

counts through the US military program.

supply, especially since we're producing premium-qual-

Jensen Meat Co. is revitalized thanks to a full company

ity products. This will require us to look more outside

corporate image change, which includes a new company

the US for raw materials. We don't see relief on the cat-

logo, a redesigned website and a new company slogan:

tle supply until 2016 or 2017 - and that is providing the

"Where Great Taste Meats Integrity."

conditions improve.

The company is also in the beginning stages of realign-

"We want to focus more on Jensen-branded products

ing its brands and core products, says Patricia Lavigne,

on the retail side this year," he adds. "We want more con-

executive accounts manager. "We're looking at our CAB

sumers asking for Jensen-brand patties by name."

[Certified Angus Beef] products to all of our Jensen sac-

flexibility. "We are always looking to be more flexible and

"We took a lot of history we had with our customers and

efficient so we can best compete in the market," Acuña

what sells in retail and foodservice. We took that data

says. "Having our new San Diego production facility gives

and compiled it and were able to determine what are the

Jensen's biggest opportunities will also come from its

rosanct brands and all of our specialty items," she adds.

us that ability." ■

* Meat&Poultry * April 2014 * www.MeatPoultry.com

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Meat&Poultry -- April 2014

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