The Sausage Factory Co. Inc., located at 259 Sage St.
in Carson City, NV., has been producing sausages since
1968. They make 30 different varieties of meats such as
Italian and pork sausage, chorizo, smoked bratwurst, linguisa,
knockwurst, hot dogs, beef franks, etc. "When people taste our hot dogs, they say that's
the way it use to be," says Joseph Tonino, assistant
vice president. "We use pork and beef for our hot
dogs. No fillers. No soybean or milk fillers." Tonino,
33, moved to northern Nevada 10 years to help expand the
family business. The company was started by his father,
Alcide, and uncle, Luciano, in Italy. They moved to Hackensack,
N.J., in 1954, and opened the Ideal Sausage Co. The younger Tonino says his father decided to buy an
existing 2,500 square-foot production plant in Carson
City in 1968 because the area reminded him of Italy, and
he saw an opportunity to grow his business on the West
Coast. He immediately expanded the facility to 8,000 square
feet. Currently, The Sausage Factory's products are sold in
northern Nevada and California. Most of the casinos in
northern Nevada use approximately 80 percent of their
meats, and the remainder is sold in the Scolari's, Smith's,
Raley's and Albertson's supermarkets. Tonino says what makes the company's meat products stand
out is that they only use wholesome cuts of pork and beef,
natural casings for the hot dogs and sausages and natural
spices. Freshness is important. Pork sausage, for example,
is usually ground when the plant opens at 5:30 a.m. and
is delivered to supermarkets by 10 a.m. the same day. "We feel there is enough junk out there on the
market, and we want to change that," Tonino says.
"It takes so much time to make a good glass of wine,"
Otto Sandmeier, the master sausage maker at the Sausage
Factory, says with the hint of a German accent. He's been
in the sausage business for 45 years, having come from
Victor Fine Foods in Lodi, Calif. The Sausage Factory products cost 10 to 20 cents more
a pound, but Tonino says that's because they only use
quality meats. And, Sandmeier says, because they are a
small company, custom orders for banquets aren't a problem. There were only six employees at the plant 10 years ago,
Tonino says. Now there are 30 people on staff. Two new
offices are being added to the facility, and the production
floor is undergoing modifications. An additional 22,000
square feet of distribution space is also in the works. Tonino says he plans to have a retail store in operation
soon at the plant site, where Italian products such as
pastas and oils will be sold. "Very few products stand up to our quality,"
a proud Tonino says. "We sell the Cadillac of foods
and Cadillacs only. Our hot dogs are not going to slide
down your throat, and you won't burp them up." For more information, contact: The Sausage Factory Co.
Inc., 259 Sage St., Carson City, NV. 89706. Phone: (775)
882-8110 and 1-800-854-7877. Fax: (775)
882-7875. |
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