Business is Booming at Gary West Meats!
The Review caught up with Michael Davis, Sales and Marketing Director of Gary West Meats and the firm’s owner, Paul Murdoch to learn more about the company’s recent expansion into Canada.
Michael Davis and Paul Murdoch
Davis began, “Our partnership with Bed Bath and Beyond is really flourishing. As you know, our line of jerky products has been in their stores for a year now and things are moving fast, really fast.”
Last fall, GWM owner Paul Murdoch and Davis met one of the regional managers for “BBB Canada” while sampling their jerky products at the BBB Eugene store. Murdoch explained, “He liked our product line so much, he said, ‘Let’s get this into Canada.’ After months of hard work, we got approval from the CFIA (Canadian Food Inspection Agency.”)
Davis continued, “Bed Bath and Beyond Canada has 30 stores with six more being built in the near future. Our labels had to be approved by the CFIA and needed to be in English and French. I think our labels look fantastic in French…they’re tre’ chic, I’d say!” The first shipments of Jacksonville’s famous jerky products are scheduled to roll-into Canada within a few weeks.
On that note, the firm recently launched into Bed Bath and Beyond California. Davis, who spent 11 days in Southern California this February said, “Bed Bath and Beyond is a dream company to work with… I got some true insight as to the layout of some of the higher-end locations like Mission Hills in San Diego and the West LA location with their wonderful food sections that are filled with unique food and wine. I am really proud to have played a part getting our products into these locations.”
In other company news, Gary West Meats has partnered with Dogs for the Deaf, donating a portion of the proceeds from the new “Gus’ Top Chop” line of jerky. Murdoch notes, “With the rash of recent recalls on dog treats manufactured in China, our timing couldn’t be better. Our “Top Chop” line of dog jerky is made the same way as our human jerky…in the same smokers but with half the salt and sugar.”
Davis concluded, “I think the reason we are succeeding in this down economy is that we continue to do things the right way like sourcing our beef, bison and elk from the finest ranches and still doing it all by hand. We are proud to be a part of the local community but it’s really cool that the rest of the country and soon the world will be able to experience the Rolls Royce of Jerky!”
Gary West Meats, located at 690 N. 5th Street in Jacksonville may be reached at 541-899-1829 (www.garywest.com)