Meat&Poultry -- September 2014 - 75

JENNINGS PREMIUM MEATS

"WilMar Meat Company
The Jennings family
uses this historic
Queen Anne style
brick house, which is
across the street from
the retail store, as its
office building.

is a proud user of framarx/waxstar
paper products.
We consider
framarx/waxstar
a partner in
our business."

- Willie Thielen

Owner, WilMar Meat Co.

cuts they can afford," he notes. "We

Historic Preservation Society, which

have always tried to be moderate in

presented Jennings Premium Meats

passing along price increases we in-

with a statewide award. Saving the

cur, but this is hurting all retailers and

1895 structure, which had been va-

wholesalers alike."

cant for six years, gave the commu-

Jennings' wife, Stephanie, wanted

nity a jump-start on establishing its

to spend more time with the family

own historic district and landed the

and left her banking job a few years

location on the National Registry of

ago. He says she has been perfect for

Historic Places.

him in a multi-faceted role that takes

Being community-minded seems

over advertising and ordering respon-

to come naturally for Jennings, who

sibilities for items like the Missouri

has coached youth sports, serves on

wines and craft beers that the retail

the local school board and is active

area offers. He contends that the move

in the local United Church of Christ.

really freed him up to focus on meat
production.

"We've been challenged for space
that we needed to devote to produc-

The company's website (www.jen-

tion," Jennings comments. "We made

ningspremiummeats.com) includes in-

major changes that allowed us to see

formation about products, but is not

and realize the potential of the busi-

designed for selling or shipping.

ness with an eye toward the future.

Growth in the family business has

We wanted to do things the right way.

also meant finding much-needed space

Moving offices across the street al-

for production. Recently, the company

lowed us to expand our retail area. We

passed on the idea of building a new

also had so many things going on we

facility for offices and bought an his-

had to take time to think through deci-

toric Queen Anne-style brick home

sions and options that both helped us

(the Fleet House) across the street

simplify and grow at the same time.

from the retail shop and converted it

Sometimes growth just means stay-

to suit their needs, keeping authentic

ing competitive." ■

Call or email today for
FREE samples!

restoration at the forefront.
Earlier this year, this major undertaking was applauded by the Missouri

Steve Krut, an industry veteran, is a contributing
editor writing exclusively for Meat&Poultry,
specializing in small business issues.

800.336.3936
Email : sales@framarx.com
Website : framarx.com

3224 Butler Ave.
South Chicago*Heights, IL. *60411
www.MeatPoultry.com * September 2014
Meat&Poultry
75
http://www.jenningspremiummeats.com http://www.framarx.com
Meat&Poultry -- September 2014

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