Best Kosher franks are well known in the Chicago area, as they were available all over the city in local Jewel Food Stores and in Jewish delicatessens. When the owner, Sara Lee Corporation, made the decision last November, to close down its meat processing shop south of the city, 185 employees faced layoffs and many Chicago residents were disappointed with the decision.
Best Kosher made their arrival in Chicago in 1886 during which time, Jewish and non-Jewish families alike came to rely upon a superior meat product. They made franks, sausages, pastrami and salami with great quality and they certified their meats by kosher standards. They became a tradition in Chicago loved by all.
Sara Lee has owned Best Kosher products and several other kosher brand foods distributed from the meat plant since 1993. Though Sara Lee has its corporate office in Downers Grove, IL, their food distribution and sales are worldwide. They apparently decided that their kosher foods were small brands and best left to the kosher niche market.
When Sara Lee bought the meat processing plant in 1993, it employed 580 workers and generated $85 million dollars, but the kosher market has diminished over the years.
The official word from Sara Lee was, “Because of the deterioration of the kosher business’ value, Sara Lee has taken a non-cash impairment charge of $20 million to $25 million, according to a July filing with securities regulators.”
The meat processing plant has been put up for sale and the business shut down.
Kosher or not, these products were enjoyed by all. They were very distinctive in flavor much like our superior Vienna Sausage products. There was no doubt when you ate a Best Kosher dog that the meat was top quality fare. In addition to the hot dog frankfurter, Best Kosher made a dinner frank that was more substantial more like the size of a polish sausage.
Seven or eight Kosher delicatessens and a host of hot dog establishments spread across Chicagoland are minus the Best Kosher brand franks and long time customers are buzzing about the shutdown of the meat processing plant and demise of Best Kosher franks. The outlet store on Pershing Road will also be missed.
However, it isn’t difficult to see why Sara Lee might be agreeable to closing down their Best Kosher brand because kosher food is processed with greater due care than the normal meat processing plants.
Kosher foods are a strict dietary food and must comply with standards set forth in biblical standards for kosher dietary laws. Kosher foods have to be certified by rabbinic authorities before they can be sold as kosher.
Inspections begin while the animals are still alive and continue up until the product leaves the meat processing plant. Strict attention is given to preparation to ensure Old World flavor and the lengthy process is passed from generation to generation. As you would expect, the process is costly and you have to pay premium prices for the final product.
For a detailed look at the kosher process from start to finish see the web site http://www.bests-kosher.com/
As the end of Best Kosher franks comes to an end in Chicago, we say farewell to a long tradition of superior products. It has been said that three fourths of the sales of Best Kosher was to non-Jewish people, not concerned about kosher but delighted with the taste. Sara Lee still sells Ball Park Franks, but they simply don’t live up to the taste of Best Kosher dogs.
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