Omaha Steaks facts for kids
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| Privately held family business | |
| Industry | Mail order Retail Gourmet food |
| Founded | 1917 |
| Headquarters | Omaha, Nebraska |
| Products | Food |
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Number of employees
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1,500 (2022) |
Omaha Steaks is a famous company that sells delicious meats and other foods. It's named after the city where it started, Omaha, Nebraska. They make, sell, and deliver steaks, chicken, seafood, and even some ready-to-eat meals.
Contents
How Omaha Steaks Started
The story of Omaha Steaks began a long time ago. In 1850, a man named Lazar Shames had a meat business in Latvia. Later, in 1898, his son J.J. and his family moved to the United States. They were looking for a new home because of problems they faced in Latvia.
The family arrived in Omaha, Nebraska, a city that was growing fast because of its meat packing industry. J.J. and his son B.A. Simon worked as butchers for many years. Then, in 1917, they started their own meat-cutting business. It was called "Table Supply Meat Co."
Growing the Business
In 1924, the Simons moved their business to a new spot in Omaha. They started selling their beef to local grocery stores, hotels, and restaurants.
B.A. Simon's son, Lester, joined the company in 1929. He helped the business grow even more. In the 1940s, Lester made a special deal. Omaha Steaks began serving their meats on the dining cars of Union Pacific Railroad trains. These trains traveled across the country to cities like Los Angeles and San Francisco.
Shipping Meat to Homes
The idea of sending meat directly to customers started in 1952. Orders were packed with dry ice in cardboard boxes. They were then shipped by train.
In the early 1960s, new ways of shipping made things even better. They started using special foam coolers and vacuum packaging. This helped Omaha Steaks send food directly to people's homes. In 1963, the company sent out its first catalogs. These catalogs showed not just steaks, but also chicken, pork, seafood, and desserts. In 1966, the company officially changed its name to Omaha Steaks.
Opening Stores and Going Online
Omaha Steaks opened its first store in Omaha in 1976. Before this, you could only buy their products in certain restaurants or by ordering from their catalog. By 1984, half of their sales came from catalogs. The other half came from selling to restaurants and hotels. In 1985, they opened a store outside Nebraska, in Houston. By 2021, they had 48 stores in 20 different states.
Omaha Steaks was also one of the first companies to sell things online. They put their first ad on CompuServ in 1991. By 1995, they had a strong presence on America Online and their own website. This helped them get many new customers. In 1999, they even launched a website for customers in Japan.
What Omaha Steaks Does Today
Omaha Steaks makes and sells many different kinds of food. This includes steaks, seafood, chicken, pork, and even appetizers, side dishes, and desserts. The company's main office is still in Omaha, Nebraska. It is one of the biggest employers in the city.
Omaha Steaks has about 1,500 full-time employees. During busy times like holidays, they hire more than 3,000 extra workers. This helps them handle all the extra orders. The company has three factories, two shipping centers, and a large freezer warehouse.
How They Reach Customers
Omaha Steaks sells its products in many ways. They sell to restaurants, through mail order, over the phone, in their retail stores, and online. Their website, Omahasteaks.com, is a big part of their business.
When you order from Omaha Steaks, your food is shipped in special coolers with dry ice. This keeps everything frozen. During their busiest times, they can ship up to 100,000 packages every day! The products you find in their stores are the same as those you can order online or through their catalog.
Today, Todd Simon is the chairman of Omaha Steaks. Nate Rempe is the company's president and CEO.
Branding and Marketing
Omaha Steaks uses the slogan "America's Original Butcher." They are known for offering high-quality steaks with special packaging and delivery. The company was one of the first to sell products directly to customers. They use many different ways to reach people, including phone sales, mail, online ads, and their stores.
In 1958, Omaha Steaks placed its first ad for mail-order steaks in The New Yorker magazine. They have been advertising in that magazine ever since, which is a very long time!
Famous chefs have also worked with Omaha Steaks. Chef James Beard was a spokesperson in the 1970s. In 2020, Chef David Rose became the company's executive chef and spokesperson. He also helps them create new products.
Cookbooks
Omaha Steaks has published several cookbooks. In 1997, Frederick J. Simon, whose family started Omaha Steaks, wrote The Steaklover's Companion. This book had recipes from many famous American chefs. He also wrote Beef For All Seasons the next year. Other cookbooks include The Great Gathering Guide and Cookbook, Omaha Steaks: Let's Grill, and Omaha Steaks: Meat.
Helping the Community
Omaha Steaks supports many charities and arts groups. They also help with education scholarships. Some of the organizations they have helped include:
- Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts
- Film Streams
- Santa Fe Opera
- Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation
- National Multiple Sclerosis Society
- American Heart Association
- American Cancer Society
- Big Brothers Big Sisters of America
The company also works with groups that help people after disasters, like Mercy Chefs. They also support food banks such as Feeding America and Food Bank for the Heartland.
Media and Publications
Television Appearances
- Omaha Steaks was featured on CNBC's The Big Idea (2006).
- The company also appeared on Hell's Kitchen (2014).
Cookbooks Published
- Harrisson, John, and Frederick J. Simon. Omaha Steaks: Let's Grill. New York: Clarkson Potter, 2001. ISBN: 978-0-6096-0776-3
- Harrisson, John, and Frederick J. Simon. Omaha Steaks Meat. New York, N.Y: C. Potter, 2001. ISBN: 978-0-6096-0777-0
- Simon, Frederick J, John Harrisson, and Mark Kiffin. The Steaklover's Companion: 170 Savory Recipes from America's Greatest Chefs. New York: HarperCollins, 1997. ISBN: 978-0-0601-8781-1
- Simon, Frederick J, and John Harrisson. A year of beef recipes : beef for all seasons. New York: HarperCollins, 1999. ISBN: 978-0-0601-9382-9
- The Great American Grilling Book. New York: Time, Inc. Home Entertainment, 2008. ISBN: 978-1-6032-0020-2
- Omaha Steaks International good life guide and cookbook, a yearly volume.
- Great Gathering Guide & Cookbook, a free cookbook and cooking guide with coupons.
See also
- Direct marketing
- Gourmet foods
