Monogram Foods

Monogram Foods Solutions was founded in 2004 and formed through the merger of assets of the King Cotton and Circle B meat brands, previously owned by Sara Lee Corporation. [1] In 2006 the company purchased its first additional facility in Chandler, Minnesota to produce meat jerky snacks.[2]

Inc. Magazine has named Monogram as one of the 5000 fastest-growing privately held companies consecutively from 2009 to 2016.[3]

In 2010, the company created the Monogram Loves Kids Foundation which raises funds for children's charities in the communities in which Monogram Foods operates.[2] The funds are raised and donated by employees, shareholders, team members, friends and vendors of the company.[4][5]

In June 2017, Monogram Foods was named The National Provisioner's Processor of the Year for 2017 due to significant growth through acquisitions and capital investments.[6]

Acquired in 2012 from former competitor Hinsdale Farms, the company's Bristol, Indiana plant produces more than 1.7 million corn dogs and mini corn dogs daily, estimated to be 80 percent of the private-label corn dog and mini corn dog market.[4][14]

The first production plant Monogram acquired is called Monogram Meat Snacks, which is located in Chandler, Minnesota. It produces primarily meat jerky and sticks for Cotton Meats and Trail's Best. It has seen significant capital investments since it was purchased in 2006, including four new production lines and an improved wastewater system. It has grown from 115 employees in 2006 to almost 400 in 2017[2]

The company's facility in Martinsville, Virginia has expanded four times since its purchase by Monogram Foods in 2009, increasing employment from 115 employees in 2009 to 600 in 2017. In 2015, improvements to warehousing and logistics capabilities were carried out in partnership with multiple local organizations, including The Virginia Economic Development Partnership, Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corporation, The Governor’s Opportunity Fund, and The Virginia Tobacco Indemnification and Community Revitalization Commission.[15]

The facility named Monogram Appetizers after its purchase in 2015 is located in Plover, Wisconsin, and has grown from 550 to 650 employees in 2017. It has received over 15 million dollars in capital improvements, primarily to improve automation.[16]

Monogram Foods produces a variety of products such as beef jerky, corn dogs, pre-cooked bacon, frozen appetizers, baked goods, hors d'oeuvres and pet treats. Products are produced both as internally owned as well as licensed brands. Some of their internal brands are King Cotton, Circle B, Wild Bill's, Bull's, Hannah's, Trail's Best, O' Brien's, Carnival Dogs, Snapps, and Brookfield. Some of their licensed brands include Bass Pro Shops, Butterball, Johnsonville, and Team Real Tree.[8][17]

Monogram Foods was the first manufacturer and marketer of bacon jerky, introduced in 2011.[18]

In 2015, Monogram Foods created a type of pre-cooked bacon, which uses a proprietary roasting technique developed during the creation of bacon jerky, to remove most of the oil for longer shelf life. This allowed the bacon to be only partially pre-cooked with the intention of the consumer completing the cooking process in a pan quickly and with less mess.[1][19]