The 50 percent ground beef and 50 percent bacon patties initially will launch at 77 Sam’s Club locations in California and six stores in the Dallas market in October, said Abel Olivera, CEO of Jensen Meat Co. The patties will be frozen and offered in 2- and 4-lb. packages of six to 12 individually quick-frozen (IQF) one-third lb. handmade-style patties.
Slater’s 50/50 was founded in 2009 by Scott Slater and is owned by Slater’s Restaurant Group. The company operates eight restaurants throughout Southern California, and a new restaurant in Dallas. “We’re ecstatic to join forces with a company capable of maintaining Slater’s patent-worthy taste and quality and delivering it to customers around the country,” said Michael Nekhleh, president of Slater’s Restaurant Group.
The licensing agreement was conceived and executed by Paul Leonhardt, president of Coastal Limited, a San Diego-based licensing and brand management agency.
“Baconmania shows no signs of receding,” Olivera said. “There is a huge demand for bacon products. In fact, national bacon reserves have hit a 50-year low.” Olivera estimated that gross sales in the first year could conservatively exceed $10 million.
“Bringing these two homegrown Southern California companies together to bring the Slater’s 50/50 burger sensation into people’s homes was a natural fit,” Leonhardt said. “Slater’s 50/50 has won numerous awards, including Best Burger in California, since it was introduced in 2009. Jensen Meat, located in San Diego since 1958, has one of the newest, most modern meat processing plants west of the Mississippi and is proud to exceed USDA standards.”
Jensen Meat Co. specializes in IQF and fresh patties in different shapes, lean-to-fat ratios and value-added products under both Jensen and private-label brands. The company produces 75 million lbs. of ground beef annually from a 150,000-sq.-ft. plant that produces 250 SKUs. The company produces ground beef products under the Fat Burger, Great Value, Kroger, Member’s Mark and Sysco brands in addition to other licensed product extensions.
