Cher-Make Sausage Co.: New label design has Cher-Make looking to the next generation

CONTACT:

Tom Chermak

President

Cher-Make Sausage Company

2915 Calumet Ave.

Manitowoc, WI 54220

(800) 242-7679

tomc@cher-make.com

Manitowoc, Wisconsin – (Jan. 28, 2010) – In an effort to ensure their position as Wisconsin’s “Authentic Sausage Makers”, Cher-Make Sausage Company presents new labeling across their product lines.

The new look features the faces of “Authentic” people from all walks of life. “Our product flavor and quality has remained the same throughout the generations, but we felt it was important to make a better statement on our branded look,” said Tom Chermak, third generation Authentic Sausage Maker, and current company president.

“It’s important that we capture the essence of our company and our brand. We found the solution—feature faces that represent the type of people who make, buy and enjoy our products. We looked to capture a broad spectrum of faces and personalities…moms, dads, children, grandmas, service men, outdoorsmen and more. People who are approachable and immediately likeable.”

A lengthy search of thousands of faces took the company to a final select group. Included are some Lakeshore natives—for example Milan Miller who for decades operated the smokehouses at Cher-Make… the same houses still used today to naturally smoke the company’s products. “Milan was a natural fit for our line of Stadium Hot Dogs. I’ve known Milan since I was a boy and he was always proud of his days playing for the Manitowoc Chiefs back in the late 50’s as well as his years spent at Cher-Make. He had to be part of this effort!” points out Chermak.

Another local athlete selected was John Raih, a semi-pro baseball player who played on the Manitowoc Lakeshore baseball team back in the early 1900’s. The team was a championship contender and their pictures can be found gracing the walls of many historical public places in the city. John’s picture was chosen for Cher-Make’s Homegame Bratwurst.

The most significant selection was company founder Emil Chermak, Tom’s grandfather. Emil was chosen to carry Cher-Make’s flagship brands: Natural Casing Wieners, Original Ring Bologna, and Original Summer Sausage-all items that were sold in his butchershop in the early 1930’s.

“For many years back in the 60’s and 70’s our product labels featured a caricature of a butcher who was known as Uncle Emil. Having an actual photo of my grandfather Emil stuffing Natural Casing Wieners on the labels brings everything full circle. It is especially meaningful for me in that my father, Art, was alive to see the labels developed and come to market in late fall.” Art Chermak passed away a few days short of his 89th birthday this past November. “He and his sister Betty Hoefner were very proud to have their father’s photo be part of our new labeling effort. I’m happy to preserve and honor our family’s heritage as we move the company forward in the approaching new decade.”

(Art Chermak was the President of Cher-Make Sausage for many years and was instrumental in its growth and success. Over the years, he was an active member of the meat industry including being a member of the Board of Directors of the American Meat Institute and a member of the National Independent Meat Packers Association. He was instrumental in starting Lakeshore Sausage Manufacturers Association; which helped establish standards in the industry for the area. He was honored by being inducted into the Wisconsin Meat Industry Hall of Fame in 2001.)

Customers are now able to visit Cher-Make’s newly built website (http://www.cher-make.com) and create some “fun” versions of the Cher-Make labels featuring members of their own family and friends. The site will be very user friendly and consumers will also be able to find great recipes, nostalgic company history and other important information on the company’s products.

Founded by Emil Chermak in 1928, the Cher-Make Sausage Company serves the branded and private label industry with products throughout North America from their plant in Manitowoc, Wisconsin.