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Pelkin’s new provider of meat products at Resch Complex

Locally-owned company has two locations in Crivitz and Suamico

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September 12, 2022

ASHWAUBENON – A locally-owned small meat processing business – with locations in Suamico and Crivitz – is getting quite the opportunity to get its meats in the hands of hundreds of consumers, thanks to a recent agreement with PMI Entertainment Group (PMI).

Owner Dennis Pelkin said the agreement names Pelkin’s as the official hot dogs, brats and beef snacks supplier at the Resch Center and Resch Expo, effective immediately.

He said Pelkin’s will also be the presenting sponsor of the Bart Starr Plaza Tailgate Party.
 
“As we continue to enhance the available food choices in the Resch Center and Resch Expo, we’re excited to partner with Pelkin’s and the quality products this family business provides,” PMI Food and Beverage Vice President David Herrera said. “The fresh quality and taste of the hot dogs, brats and beef snacks produced by this locally-owned business will boost our selection and be a big hit with our guests.”

A win-win
PMI Senior Corporate Communications Manager Terry Charles said the new partnership with Pelkin’s is “cool for everybody involved.”

“Pelkin’s must have 100 different flavors of brats, snack sticks, etc.,” he said. “As we were looking at our product offerings, the sky is the limit on what Pelkin’s can offer – it’s the versatility and freshness of their products. The fact it’s a Northeastern Wisconsin company is icing on the cake.”

Pelkin’s, a family-owned full-service butcher and custom meat processor started in 1973 and has retail stores in Crivitz (600 S. U.S. Highway 141) and Suamico (1756 Riverside Dr.).

Charles said the recent agreement will give Pelkin’s an even bigger reach with its products.

“We have hundreds of thousands of people who come through these complexes every year,” he said. “It’s a cool, feel-good story.”

Besides various events, concerts, home shows and concerts – the Resch is also home to Green Bay Gamblers hockey and Green Bay Blizzard football.

“I’m not exactly sure, but we might go through 10,000 hot dogs during a Gamblers season in itself,” Charles said. “Our monthly Family Night games offer cheaper hot dog prices – it’s a popular night.”

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Pelkin’s Smokey Meat Market owner Dennis Pelkin, second from left, stands with his three children, whom he calls “the next generation of owners.” Submitted Photo

He said when he posted the news release about Pelkin’s taking over, it “blew up.”

“I put it on the Resch Center Facebook page, and the last time I looked, it had a reach of more than 110,000 (people) and tons of shares and comments,” Charles said. “I was amazed at what I saw.”

Charles said PMI’s official meat supplier has changed numerous times over the past decade, but Pelkin’s is the choice “for the foreseeable future.”

“Festival Foods will also continue to supply the Festy Burgers,” he said. “It’s nice to have two local companies on board.”
 
A family tradition
Pelkin said he’s honored PMI chose his company as its official meat supplier.

“I’m excited,” he said. “From where we are now, it’s a big stepping stone for the company. Maybe it’ll lead to something bigger down the road – you never know. I know Johnsonville is in Lambeau (Field) right now, but at least my name is now across the street (at the Resch).”

Pelkin said he didn’t have to do much to put the agreement into motion.

“(PMI) came to me,” he said. “That’s what makes it even sweeter, that they thought of me. One of the girls from there has a cabin toward Crivitz by Crooked Lake, and she stopped into the store. A few others visited the Suamico store and liked the products. They must have put in a good word.”

Though Pelkin said this will mean more business, he’s confident he and his employees can handle the increased workload.
“We can keep up – we have a nice staff, and they work hard,” he said. “Right now, I think we’re sitting great.”

Pelkin said with his dad in the grocery business, he got an early start in customer service.

“I always liked the meat part of the (grocery) business, so that’s the way I transitioned,” he said. “I’m the second generation in the business, and now I’m teaching my kids. I have three kids who want to take over the business someday.”

Pelkin said the Crivitz location opened in 2014, followed by the Suamico store in June 2021.

“I hate to bring it up, but the COVID-19 pandemic (was good) for our business,” he said. “It’s gone crazy. I feel bad for the businesses that had to close because of the pandemic, though – it’s bittersweet.”

Pelkin said he hopes to open another store soon.

“I’m still looking for the perfect location, but maybe De Pere or the University (of Wisconsin-Green Bay) area are possibilities,” he said. “For sure in the Green Bay area, though.”

We do small, hand-crafted batches. We only do 25-pound batches – I’m old school. We aren’t a big-production company. That has served us well in the past, so there’s no need to change it now.”

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