Sabrett facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Marathon Enterprises, Inc.

Type	Incorporated company
Industry	Meats and gourmet delicatessen products
Founded	1948
Founder	Gregory Papalexis
Headquarters	Englewood, New Jersey , United States
Area served	New York City
Products	frankfurters, condiments

Sabrett is a famous brand known for its delicious hot dogs and other tasty foods. It's owned by a company called Marathon Enterprises, Inc., which is based in Englewood, New Jersey. Marathon Enterprises is a big supplier of meats and special deli products, especially in the New York City area.

The Story of Sabrett Hot Dogs

How Sabrett Began

The story of Sabrett started in 1928 with Samuel Ogus, who came from Latvia, and his partner, Fritz Frankel. They first opened a bakery called the Star Baking Company. Samuel Ogus was great at running the factory and even designed some of the machines. Fritz Frankel was the "outside" man, handling sales and customers.

In the 1930s, they noticed that many people wanted hot dog buns. They became one of the biggest hot dog bun makers in the world! Soon, they decided to make hot dogs too. They wanted to call their new combined company "Star," but another meat company already used that name.

Choosing the Name "Sabrett"

Next, they tried the name "Sabre," which means a type of sword, and their slogan was "keen on quality." But there was also a tuna fish company called Sabre. So, they came up with "Sabrett," which means a "little saber." It sounded "small and sharp," just like their hot dogs!

During the Great Depression, hot dogs were very popular because they were a cheap meal. Sabrett's first factory was in the Lower East Side of New York City. Later, in the late 1940s, they moved their bakery and hot dog factory to Jersey City.

Sabrett's Famous Hot Dogs

Sabrett became well-known for its spicy, all-beef hot dogs. You could find their hot dogs everywhere, especially from the famous hot dog carts in New York City. These carts were bought from Sabrett but were owned by different people. Some owners even had several carts!

Big customers like Nathan's Famous in Coney Island and Papaya King also bought Sabrett hot dogs. The Stevens Company, which supplied hot dogs to all the ballparks, was another major customer. Over time, Sabrett hot dogs started being sold in supermarkets all across the country.

Family Business and New Owners

The company was a family business for many years. Fritz Frankel's daughter, Pearl, and son, Jules, joined the company. Pearl married Kurt Teitler, and he also became part of Sabrett. Samuel Ogus's daughter, Marilyn, married Maurice B. "Mac" Katz, who joined in 1958.

For over 30 years, the company was run by the sons-in-law and grandsons-in-law of the original founders. In 1989, Sabrett was sold to Gregory Papalexis, who owned Marathon Industries. Marathon kept the Sabrett name because it was so famous for hot dogs in New York City.

Sabrett Products

Delicious Frankfurters

Sabrett's most famous product is its hot dogs, also called frankfurters. These, along with other meats like pastrami and salami, are made at the Marathon factory in the Bronx, New York.

You can find Sabrett frankfurters in many places:

• From Sabrett hot dog carts on the streets of New York City.
• In local supermarkets.
• At club stores like BJ's and Costco.

Tasty Condiments

Sabrett also sells different condiments that are perfect for hot dogs. These include:

• Sauerkraut
• Sweet relish
• Spicy brown mustard
• A special tomato-based onion sauce called "Sabrett Onions in Sauce."

Hot Dog Buns

To go with their hot dogs, the company also sells hot dog buns.

See also