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Not many businesses can say they have been around since the
early 1900s, but not many businesses are like Koegel Meat
Company.
Albert Koegel came to the Flint area in 1916 to start his
own business. Albert's dream turned into reality after talking
with a salesman from Armour Foods. The salesman told Mr. Koegel
that if he moved to Flint, Michigan, that he would stand a
good chance of making the business work, due to the projected
growth of the automobile industry.
Albert Koegel began his training in an apprenticeship program
in Germany. Here he learned the meat business from the ground
up. After completing his apprenticeship, he moved to America
and then to Flint to pursue his dream of starting his own
meat company.
By the mid 1930s, Albert had built up enough business to construct
a plant to produce his meat products. He employed just a handful
of workers, nothing compared to the nearly one hundred people
employed today. As the number of employees increased, so did
sales and the product line.
Today Koegel produces about thirty-five different products.
They are sold almost exclusively in Michigan with a small
percentage going to Toledo, Ohio. The business continues to
grow as new stores and territories are added. Additionally,
Koegel products have a taste and texture that usually keeps
customers buying once they try the product. Today the products
are still made using the same recipes and processes that Albert
Koegel learned and developed.
Another unique aspect of Koegel Meats business is that they
deliver to each individual store. Delivering to each store
allows Koegel to place a shelf life on its products which
is approximately half of its competitors. This helps to ensure
that the end customer is eating a fresh product.
In
1972, Albert Koegel's son built a new manufacturing plant
just off Bristol Road, near Bishop Airport in Flint, Michigan.
Koegel's moved in on January 21, 1972. This location has proven
to be beneficial due to its proximity to I-75 and I-69.
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