B&R’s Smoke House Team Wins Big at Meat Competition

Regional independent B&R Stores’ Smoke House team brought home 13 awards at the recent Nebraska Association of Meat Processors Cured Meats Competition, including Grand Champion honors in the boneless ham and snack sticks categories.

Thirty-year B&R Stores veteran “Smokin’” Bob Voss, Smoke House manager at the Super Saver in the independent’s headquarter town of Lincoln, Neb., said experience is a key to the team’s success. “The team members all work at different stores, but we share ideas to improve our smoked and cured meats and sausage. That commitment shows when the quality of our hand-crafted products is recognized by the judges.”

Voss says their winning approach combines old-fashioned craftsmanship with ongoing education. The Smoke House team relies on experts at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln meat science department to help them develop healthier products that still provide the flavor their customers crave.

“The awards are based on taste, texture and other qualities,” said Voss. “But we know our customers also want to feel good about their food. We use the best ingredients and latest techniques to make the high-quality meats customers expect.”

Other team members include Adam Meisenheimer, Smoke House manager at the Super Saver in Millard, and Keith Johnson from the Russ’s Market in Hastings.

Awards include:

First Place/Grand Champion

• Boneless Ham
• Snack Sticks

Second Place/Reserve Grand Champion

• Dried Beef
• Hot Dog/Frankfurters
• Whole Smoked Turkeys
• Summer Sausage, Fermented

Third Place/Champion

• Summer Sausage, Non-Fermented
• Small Diameter Smoked Sausage, Non-Traditional

Fourth Place/Reserve Champion

• Bratwurst (Caramel Apple Brats)
• Summer Sausage, Non-Fermented
• Whole Smoked Turkey
• Small Diameter Smoked Sausage
• Small Diameter Smoked Sausage, Non-Traditional

B&R Stores is an employee-owned company that operates 17 stores under four banners (Russ’s Market, Super Saver, Save Best Foods and Grand Central Apple Market) located in seven cities across Nebraska and Iowa.