AtLink Business Spotlight - Hard Times Beef Jerky

Показать описание

Hard Times Beef Jerky started in 1997 in Reydon, Oklahoma after owner, J.W. Tennery, perfected his daughter’s beef jerky recipe. They moved the operation to El Reno, Oklahoma in 2007 and have continued to expand their product line and facility.

They started with just one flavor of beef jerky in one size, and currently have four flavors in eight different sized packages including snack sticks, beef jerky chew, and ends and pieces jars. They have tripled the size of their plant, installed new top of the line equipment, and increased the number of employees.

Hard Times Beef Jerky is a family owned and operated business that is continually growing. With Tennery’s daughter, Shea Tennery-Wilson, overseeing daily operations and his son and daughter-in-law, Shawn and Cheri Tennery managing internet orders, the family stays very busy.

“We all work as a team with the same goal in mind: put out the best product and take care of our employees and customers,” said Tennery.

Hard Times Beef Jerky uses the best ingredients and makes the best beef jerky possible according to Tennery. He is proud to have his name and phone number on every package of beef jerky, he believes in the quality of the product that much according to Tennery-Wilson.

Quality control is also VERY important to Hard Times Jerky.

“We weigh out all of our spices so we know that every single batch is exactly the same. We want consistency,” Tennery-Wilson said.

She also talked about quality control during the packaging process.

“The meat goes up the conveyor belt to scales and weighed [by the machine]. The employees weigh it again by hand. We never want to short anyone. If it’s short, the girls will add more jerky,” she said

There is also a new meat cooler that can hold up to 40,000 pounds affording them plenty of room to grow. Currently they go through about 4,000 pounds of meat per day making up to 300 cases of beef jerky per day.

“The guys slice the meat and then it's marinated. Then the girls lay [the meat] on the screens by hand,” Tennery-Wilson said.

“Our employees have become like family and we like to make sure they have the best working environment: clean, safe, and happy,” said Tennery.

“Our employees come first,” said Tennery-Wilson.

The fact that employees come first is evident in some of the new renovations that have been made to the facility. Tennery has built a new break room with a full kitchen, new locker rooms, and installed automation equipment that aid employees in packaging.

Everything in the facility is also completely sanitary. They have pride in their product and the facility so it is important to them to maintain that level of excellence.

“If I was going to have open heart surgery, I’d want it done in my plant, I know it’s sanitary,” said Tennery.

Something unique about Hard Times Beef Jerky is that there is a toothpick in every 1 oz., 2.25 oz. and 4oz. package of beef jerky. It’s something different that Hard Times Beef Jerky does, and they feel it makes them stand out. Because beef jerky is a low calorie, high protein snack, the package sizes are great to keep on hand for a quick and easy snack.

“When I was a child, I was told by a wise man to pick an occupation in life that you’d do for free if you could afford to and you will always be happy. I picked making beef jerky, and I’m HAPPY!” Tennery said.