Nueske
In the heart of the Great Depression, R.C. Nueske had an idea: He could begin selling some of his family’s traditionally made smoked meats, created with recipes that the Nueske family had used for generations, to ease their hardships. He loaded up the back of his automobile with the Nueske family’s freshly smoked hams, sausages and bacon.
His destination? The many resorts that dotted Wisconsin’s Northwoods. Although money was tight for everyone, people knew a good thing when they tasted it and word of R.C. Nueske’s Applewood Smoked Meats traveled far and fast.
“At a young age, and as a son growing up in a family business, my father always told me: Never place a high value on how large you can ‘grow the company’; pay attention to the details and concentrate on just how good you can make a product,” says current Nueske’s President Robert Nueske. “Your customers will vote by opening their wallets and growth will come.”
Now, Nueske’s Applewood Smoked Meats remains located in its hometown of Wittenberg and continues to be operated by the Nueske family. It is now in its third generation of business, with the involvement of R.C.’s grandchildren, cousins Tanya and Ryan Nueske.
“It is sad to say that, for many companies, family ownership is in name only,” says Robert Nueske. “With Nueske’s, it’s a true commitment by family members working directly within the company along with many loyal and long-term employees.
Together, we not only produce an exceptional product but we have a sales force that has built outstanding customer relationships over the years. These customer care relationships truly bond the family name with product quality, consistency and on-time delivery.”
Nueske’s creates a wide variety of items, ranging from traditional German sausages like mettwurst and bratwurst to an Applewood Smoked Bacon that is hand rubbed with Tellicherry peppercorns. This signature bacon has proven itself a winner in taste tests time after time and has even received three gold medals in 10 years from the National Association for the Specialty Food Trade, an award that means the product was judged the best specialty meat in the whole nation three times over. This same product has been mentioned in almost 100 books and cookbooks during the past decade and in national newspapers.
“I am overwhelmed that our company is being recognized with this award from Corporate Report Wisconsin with so many excellent companies to choose from in this great state,” says Robert Nueske. “Witten-berg is a very small community, and our family comes from very simple beginnings, beginnings that have taught us to work hard, take nothing for granted and give back to those who have helped us bring about this success … as well as the community within which we live.”
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