A family-owned business, Jack Link's, has become the largest manufacturer of jerky in the world, with an estimated annual revenue of $4 billion. The company was founded by Jack Link, a German immigrant who turned his passion for beef jerky into a successful business after realizing that it could be made more affordably and sold at a higher price point than before.
In 1985, Link's then-teenage sons accompanied him on a hunting trip when they stopped at a convenience store to buy some jerky. The cost of the jerky was high, and Link couldn't believe how much money it was costing. This experience sparked an idea in Link, who decided to make his own jerky using ovens he already had installed at his plant.
With his 1880s recipe, Jack Link's initial product became a hit, and today, the company is known as one of the top-selling jerky brands in America. The business has made its founder a billionaire and employs over 500 people worldwide.
The company's growth can be attributed to Jack Link's decision to sell his products in bags with resealable pouches. This move helped the business increase revenue significantly, especially after Walmart and Target started carrying it. Today, bagged beef jerky makes up more than half of the company's total revenue.
Jack Link's CEO, Troy Link, says that there is still plenty of room for growth in the market. The competition has increased, but Troy believes that Jack Link's will continue to succeed due to its fortitude and commitment to innovation.
The business has remained family-owned and has no intention of selling. If it were to be sold, it would likely come at a high price. Private equity investors have expressed interest in acquiring the company, but so far, no deal has been reached.
Jack Link's plans to expand its meat sticks line are crucial for winning over new customers, especially Gen Z consumers. The business has already invested $450 million in building a new plant dedicated solely to manufacturing meat and cheese sticks.
Looking ahead, Jack Link believes that bigger is better and hopes that his family will continue to grow the business in the future.
In 1985, Link's then-teenage sons accompanied him on a hunting trip when they stopped at a convenience store to buy some jerky. The cost of the jerky was high, and Link couldn't believe how much money it was costing. This experience sparked an idea in Link, who decided to make his own jerky using ovens he already had installed at his plant.
With his 1880s recipe, Jack Link's initial product became a hit, and today, the company is known as one of the top-selling jerky brands in America. The business has made its founder a billionaire and employs over 500 people worldwide.
The company's growth can be attributed to Jack Link's decision to sell his products in bags with resealable pouches. This move helped the business increase revenue significantly, especially after Walmart and Target started carrying it. Today, bagged beef jerky makes up more than half of the company's total revenue.
Jack Link's CEO, Troy Link, says that there is still plenty of room for growth in the market. The competition has increased, but Troy believes that Jack Link's will continue to succeed due to its fortitude and commitment to innovation.
The business has remained family-owned and has no intention of selling. If it were to be sold, it would likely come at a high price. Private equity investors have expressed interest in acquiring the company, but so far, no deal has been reached.
Jack Link's plans to expand its meat sticks line are crucial for winning over new customers, especially Gen Z consumers. The business has already invested $450 million in building a new plant dedicated solely to manufacturing meat and cheese sticks.
Looking ahead, Jack Link believes that bigger is better and hopes that his family will continue to grow the business in the future.
and they're already planning to expand into meat sticks? It just seems like a bunch of companies trying to make more money off people's snack habits. And what about the environment? All that plastic packaging isnt exactly sustainable 
. I dont think this is a good use of resources, especially when there are bigger problems to tackle...
His secret ingredient: innovation 
Not just about the beef, but about efficiency & bags 
A billion bucks for beef jerky? I mean, I'm not complaining or anything... who doesn't love a good snack on-the-go? 
️ The story's pretty cool, though - from this guy Jack Link's 80s recipe to selling it in resealable pouches and making it a household name. Not bad for a family business that just kind of stuck with what worked, you know? 
Now they're branching out into meat sticks (another winning combo 
) and trying to appeal to the younger crowd... here's hoping their product stays fresh 
. Troy Link's got some good points about not giving up on innovation and Gen Z consumers but they gotta do more than just slap some new packaging on the meat sticks 
.
I mean, don't get me wrong, the guy's passion is cool and all, but let's not oversell this achievement. It's just jerky, folks! And another thing, why do they need to expand their meat sticks line? Can't they just stick with what works? 
! It's so inspiring how Jack Link went from being frustrated with the high price of beef jerky to creating something amazing himself. And now, his company is a billionaire-maker 
. And OMG 4 billion dollars in revenue is crazy talk 
, but where's the proof? I'd love to see some actual numbers or market research that supports this figure 
. Plus, have they done any market tests or surveys to gauge customer interest in their meat sticks line? 
It sounds like they're trying to win over Gen Z consumers, but how do we know that's going to pay off? 
I'm not saying it can't happen, but let's keep things grounded in reality 
.