If you grew up in the United States, chances are you’ve heard of Hickory Farms. The company was known for its delicious beef sticks, which were a popular snack during the holiday season.
This article will talk about the history of Hickory Farms and try to figure out what happened to their famous beef sticks.
For many Americans, the holiday season just wouldn’t be complete without biting into a Hickory Farms beef stick. These salty savory smoked sausages were a staple in many households during the winter months. But over the past decade the famous beef sticks seem to have slowly disappeared from store shelves and catalog pages.
So what exactly happened to Hickory Farms’ iconic beef sticks? As a longtime fan of these smoky sausages I decided to dig into the history of this snack staple to find out why they vanished.
A Brief History of Hickory Farms
Hickory Farms was founded in 1951 by Richard Ransom and Earl Ransom in Ohio. The company started out selling cheese at local fairs before expanding into retail stores. By 1959, they were selling beef sticks alongside their cheese – these “summer sausages” quickly became popular.
For decades, Hickory Farms was a go-to for holiday gift shopping and snacking. Their little stores popped up in malls every winter, brimming with sausages, cheeses, candies and baskets. Beef sticks, sold in multiple sizes and flavors, were always their best seller. Families would order them by the box-full each Christmas.
The Decline of the Beef Stick
In the 2000s, Hickory Farms began struggling amidst declining mall traffic and rising competition. They closed their permanent mall stores to focus on online sales and seasonal pop-up shops. Around this time, beef sticks started disappearing from their lineup.
By 2010, Hickory Farms had stopped selling their famous beef sticks entirely. The only sausages they still offered were now their Hickory Farms Summer Sausage Gift Boxes, which contained a medley of smoked meats without any beef.
Why Did Hickory Farms Ditch Their Iconic Snack?
The exact reasons behind Hickory Farms’ abandonment of their hugely popular beef sticks remain murky. However, a few key factors likely played a role:
Changing consumer preferences: Increasing health consciousness led to dwindling demand for high-sodium, high-fat smoked meats. Consumers sought out fresher, leaner options.
Pressure to modernize: Hickory Farms struggled to keep pace with changing tastes. Their classic meat-and-cheese model became outdated. They needed to overhaul their products to stay relevant.
Rising costs: Producing handcrafted smoked sausages in-house became expensive with rising meat prices. It was no longer profitable compared to prepackaged products.
Limited innovation: Hickory Farms failed to innovate and diversify their beef stick flavors and varieties over the years. The classic original recipe became boring to consumers.
Food safety concerns: Recent outbreaks linked to processed meats led to lowered consumer confidence. Hickory Farms may have decided beef sticks weren’t worth the risk.
Where To Get Your Beef Stick Fix Today
While Hickory Farms seems to have no plans to bring back their famous beef sticks, fans of this snack don’t have to go without. Many specialty food brands sell quality smoked beef sausages today, including:
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Oberto: Their Oh Boy! Oberto Giant Beef Sticks are very similar to classic Hickory Farms’ recipe.
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Nueske’s: This Wisconsin smokehouse makes smoked beef sticks with bold, peppery flavor.
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Vermont Smoke & Cure: They offer organic, nitrate-free beef sticks in fun flavors like black pepper and maple-bourbon.
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Dreamfarm: Beef sticks sold in various sizes. Grass-fed options available.
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Swiss Colony: Their beef sticks capture the nostalgic essence of Hickory Farms original.
So although we may never know the full story behind the disappearance of America’s favorite holiday beef stick, at least we can still enjoy the smoky sausage goodness from other premium brands. While not exactly the same, these alternatives help fill the void left by the loss of Hickory Farms’ iconic snack.
The Decline Of Hickory Farms And Their Products
In the mid-1980s, Hickory Farms lost ground, even though it was “America’s best-known brand of specialty foods” and had more stores than ever. Retail analysts said this drop was due to bad management, less foot traffic in the mall, and more competition from new specialty food stores like HoneyBaked Ham. General Host, which owns Hickory Farms, had hoped that the steady growth and high profits that Hickory Farms was enjoying would be spread throughout the conglomerate. However, this did not happen. Instead, Hickory Farms began to resemble its erratically profitable parent.
The chain suffered back-to-back losses totaling $3. 5 million in 1985 and 1986, which was a significant blow to the company’s financial stability. The failure of Hickory Farms to adapt to changing market conditions and competition from other specialty food retailers were some of the things that led to the company’s demise. The decline in mall traffic during this period also played a significant role in the company’s struggles.
Hickory Farms stopped focusing on beef sticks because of these problems and started focusing on wine and chocolate gifts, charcuterie gifts, and gift boxes and baskets. Their products are no longer just beef sticks, but they still have pop-up stores and kiosks in malls during the holidays.
What Happened To Hickory Farms Beef Stick?
Hickory Farms was a popular American food gift retailer that was founded in 1951 by Richard Ransom. At first, the company sold hand-made cheese at local fairs. By 1959, they had added summer sausage to their products and opened their first store in Maumee, Ohio.
Hickory Farms became famous over the years for their tasty beef sticks, which were a popular holiday snack. But, the company has changed a lot in the last few years, and their famous beef sticks are no longer available.
In 2000, Hickory Farms shifted away from year-round mall-based locations and focused on internet and catalog sales. As a result, the company closed its remaining year-round mall stores. These companies still have holiday pop-up shops and kiosks in malls, but they no longer sell beef sticks. Instead, they sell gift baskets and boxes with wine, chocolates, and charcuterie.
In addition to these changes, Hickory Farms was acquired by Modjule, LLC, a Chicago-based private investment firm. Modjule’s strategy is based on years of running and investing in different businesses, but it’s not clear if this purchase had anything to do with the beef sticks going away.
(Alive To Die?!) Hickory Farms The Complete Story – S04E12
FAQ
Who owns Hickory Farms now?
Can you eat summer sausage raw?
Does hickory farm expire?
How to use hickory farm summer sausage?
Does Hickory Farms have smoked meat?
There’s nothing quite like the fine taste and smoked flavor of this renowned meat product. Great for cooking or just plain snacking, it’s found only at Hickory Farms of Ohio. DON’T MISS: Charming classic Christmas treats to give: Vintage holiday recipes from the 1960s
What happened to Hickory Farms?
The new parent company acquired Hickory Farms’ largest single franchisee, Hickory Farms Sales, for $11 million, bringing the number of company-owned stores even with franchised units, at approximately 200 locations each. Hoping to use Hickory Farms as the core of a successful food retailing group.
Why should you buy a food gift Pak at Hickory Farms?
The food gift paks feature quality specialty foods including the exclusive Beef Stick Summer Sausage and a number of fine cheeses for which Hickory Farms of Ohio is famous. Such gifts are appreciated for quality goods appeal to everyone. ALSO SEE: 12 abandoned malls & the history of their heartbreaking decline
Is Hickory Farms still in business?
Remember those? The company is still around, so you might still be buying the modern-day gourmet gift basket version for friends, family and/or clients. Hickory Farms was founded in 1951 when Richard Ransom started selling handcrafted cheese at fairs in and near his Ohio hometown.