Uncovering the Secret: Who Really Makes Kroger Sausage?

As a Kroger shopper, I often find myself drawn to the meat counter to pick up a pack of their signature breakfast sausage links. There’s just something about that savory, slightly spicy flavor that makes them perfect for a weekend brunch. But despite being a longtime fan of Kroger’s sausage, I realized I had no idea who actually made it!

Kroger is known for their extensive lineup of private label items, but it turns out sausage production isn’t so simple. The journey from farm to shelf involves various suppliers, processors, and distributors. Join me as I uncover the complex world behind supermarket sausage and finally reveal who makes those delicious Kroger breakfast links we all know and love.

Kroger’s Vast Private Label Offerings

With nearly 3,000 stores across 35 states, Kroger is one of the largest supermarket chains in the US And their signature brand items account for a huge portion of sales From pantry staples to fresh produce, Kroger’s private label products aim to compete with big national brands.

In fact, one out of every three items sold at Kroger is their own store brand. That includes popular breakfast foods like eggs, bacon, sausage, bread, cereals, and much more. By controlling production of their private label items, Kroger can offer quality products at lower prices compared to the big brands.

But when it comes to perishables like meat and dairy, Kroger doesn’t actually own and operate processing plants. Instead, they work with various suppliers and co-packers to make Kroger-brand items.

The Complex World of Private Label Meat Products

For fresh sausage sold under the Kroger name the story usually starts right here in the US. Kroger sources pork and beef from major meat processors like Tyson and Cargill. From there the meat goes to one of many co-packers that manufacture products for Kroger’s private label.

These co-packers specialize in making supermarket brand items to the retailer’s exact specifications. Kroger provides the recipe, seasoning blend, packaging, and all other details required to produce their signature sausage.

Major Co-Packers for Kroger Meat

While the complete list of suppliers is private, a few major co-packers are known to produce sausage and other meat items for Kroger:

• Land O’Frost – Operates a dozen plants producing hot dogs, lunch meat, bacon, and sausage for private brands. Their Lansing, IL facility makes Kroger Little Smokies.

• Indiana Packers Corporation (IPC) – A subsidiary of Swiss holding company Bell Food Group, IPC makes various pork products and sausages for Kroger.

• Tara Foods – Located in Albany, GA, this facility creates peanut butter, cooking oils, sauces, and more for Kroger’s private label.

• ** Reser’s Fine Foods** – Headquartered in Oregon, Reser’s operates plants nationwide producing prepared foods for retail chains.

• AdvancePierre Foods – One of the largest co-packers in the US, AdvancePierre has 60 facilities making sandwiches, entrees, bakery items, and more for chains like Kroger.

Support From Local Meat Processors

In addition to these major players, local meat processors and butcher shops help supplement sausage production for Kroger’s 17 manufacturing plants nationwide. These small businesses provide specialty items or fill gaps in supply during busy times.

For example, Phillips Meat Processing in Ohio is one of many local processors that supplies pork products to Kroger. They recently expanded their facility to increase output for Kroger’s growing sausage demand.

Whether it’s a national co-packer or small local shop, Kroger’s suppliers must meet rigorous standards for ingredient sourcing, food safety, and product quality.

What Goes Into Kroger’s Secret Sausage Recipe?

Kroger sausage starts with fresh cuts of pork and beef. For their traditional pork breakfast sausage, they use a specific blend of shoulder and trimmings. This produces the characteristic fatty, tender texture customers expect.

To give the sausage its signature flavor, Kroger worked with suppliers to develop a proprietary blend of spices and seasonings. While the exact recipe remains a mystery, it likely contains favorites like:

• Black pepper
• Sage
• Red pepper flakes
• Maple syrup or brown sugar
• Salt
• Savory herbs like marjoram, thyme, and oregano

Meat processors mix these ingredients into ground pork, then stuff the sausage into casings. Before packaging, the links are smoked over natural hardwood chips to impart delicious smoky flavor.

Rigorous Standards for Quality Control

Suppliers must adhere to Kroger’s meticulous quality control standards for ingredients, processing, and safety. All co-packers comply with Kroger’s food safety and HACCP programs at their facilities.

To ensure freshness and peak flavor, the sausage links are quickly frozen after production. They are distributed to Kroger’s regional warehouses and stores in a frozen state. Meat departments then thaw and sell them refrigerated.

Consumer Demand Driving New Options

In response to consumer demand, Kroger has expanded its traditional pork sausage lineup. You can now find alternate versions like:

• Turkey sausage – Made from ground turkey thigh meat, these links offer a leaner alternative.

• Chicken apple sausage – With grated apples and spinach, this variety caters to health-conscious shoppers.

• Plant-based sausage – Kroger now offers meatless sausage made from pea protein and natural flavors.

• Pre-cooked sausage patties – For convenient breakfast sandwiches, Kroger sells fully-cooked sausage rounds.

No matter what variety you choose, you can count on Kroger’s signature flavor and quality. While production happens behind the scenes, you can trust you’re getting wholesome, delicious Kroger sausage made to perfection.

My Verdict: Deliciously Addictive!

Now that I know more about how Kroger sausage is made, I appreciate it even more. Getting these yummy links from farm to table is a massive coordinated effort. Kroger works tirelessly with various suppliers to deliver quality and value.

The next time I’m shopping for a hearty breakfast, you’ll find me proudly grabbing a pack of Kroger sausage. Their proprietary blend of spices gives it a flavor I just can’t resist! Knowing how much care goes into it, I don’t mind paying a little more for quality meat I can feel good about.

So for a satisfying kick of savory, peppery flavor, always go for the Kroger brand. Their meticulous production standards mean you just can’t beat these addictively delicious sausage links!