SAM KANE BEEF PROCESSORS WINS
BEEF MERCHANDISER AWARD

            Staying competitive in a tough business.  Staying flexible in a highly changing consumer marketplace.  Staying true to the values that brought them to where they are today.  These are the attributes that earned Sam Kane Beef Processors of Corpus Christi the Beef Merchandiser Award for 2001. 

The award, presented by the Texas Cattle Feeders Association during its 2001 Annual Convention in Dallas, recognizes companies that set the pace in innovative efforts to sell beef. 

"Sam Kane, a Czechoslovakian immigrant, founded a small butcher shop in Corpus Christi in 1949 with the primary objective of providing customers with high quality meats and service," said TCFA Chairman Paul Engler.  "That same commitment to quality and customer service continues unparalleled today as the company has grown to one of the nation's largest beef processors with customers throughout the U.S. and many foreign countries."

The company, which is one of the last remaining independent beef packers in the country, pioneered the use of high-voltage electrical stimulation to increase the palatability and tenderness of beef carcasses.  That innovation remains an important part of their efforts as they forge into branded beef products. 

"Other innovations benefiting the growth of beef consumption through branded beef companies include Kane's willingness to isolate cattle and carcasses for different fabrication schedules and provide longer aging times, provide smaller boxes to meet the needs of specific retailers and use advanced electronic technology such as the BeefCam to help customers sort carcasses," Engler said. 

To give an example of how the company aggressively works to satisfy customer needs, Engler said they were once asked to produce a 4% ground beef product.  Many told them it couldn't be done at a fed beef plant.  "Kane installed a state-of-the-art grinding facility and it became reality." 

But perhaps their biggest impact on the beef industry was their early recognition of the value of Select carcasses.  "They worked with retailers on the West Coast to start a trend which has greatly reduced the number of no-roll carcasses," Engler said.  "As an example, 10.1 billion pounds of beef graded Choice and 1.9 billion pounds graded Select in 1990.  In 1995, it was 11.2 billion pounds Choice and 6.4 billion pounds Select.  And in 2000, it hit 11.9 billion pounds Choice and 8.2 billion pounds Select.  They recognized a market, went after it aggressively, and not only helped increase beef demand by providing the right product to the right consumer, but increased the value of the raw product coming into their plant." 

Sam Kane Beef Processors has always been innovative in marketing and merchandising beef, Engler said.  "We're proud to have them as partners in the beef industry and to recognize them with this award." 

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