Store opens in Tulalip, bringing jerky back to its Native American Roots
December 2, 2015 Tulalip, Washington – The first Beef Jerky Outlet franchise in the Pacific Northwest celebrates its grand opening December 12 on tribal grounds in Tulalip, Washington. Part of the proceeds will benefit the Seattle Union Gospel Mission, a local charity that helps the homeless.
This local Beef Jerky Outlet specializes in more than 200 jerky varieties and sizes, including specialty meats like kangaroo, alligator, venison and elk with exotic flavors ranging from Moonshine to Cajun. Sales of beef jerky jumped 46 percent from 2009-2015, as locals and people throughout the country devour the tasty, cured dried meat snack with a vengeance.
“Beef jerky is the latest food craze with Americans craving high protein, low fat snacks,” says Tom Miller, owner of the new Tulalip Beef Jerky Outlet, one of 45 franchises throughout the country. “We can’t wait to provide people in our community with a unique selection of this popular snack. Plus we’re opening the store on tribal land, where the American Indians and pioneers in the 1800s first smoked, dried and cured beef. We’re bringing jerky back to its roots and our store is a celebration of its heritage.”
Miller spent his career as an executive in the technology industry. He’s thrilled to be the first to bring the Beef Jerky Outlet to the Pacific Northwest.
“We do a lot of wine tasting here in this area and I can see how beef jerky tastings will be a lot of fun and generate excitement for the store,” he says. “We also sell seasoning and rubs for jerky and we expect that will be a big hit with those who make their own jerky.”
Grand Opening Celebration!
- Come out to sample a variety of jerky flavors at the ribbon cutting at our local Beef Jerky Outlet at 8825 34th Ave NE, Tulalip, Washington Saturday, December 12 at 10 AM.
- One lucky customer will walk away with a $100 gift basket full of jerky. Other giveaways will be handed out all weekend long.
- Mel Sheldon, Chairman of the Tulalip Indian tribe will be the honored guest at the ribbon cutting
- 10 percent of all sales Saturday go to the Union Gospel Mission, a local charity that helps the homeless. This after Seattle’s mayor declared states of emergency in Seattle and King Counties to help combat the area’s homeless epidemic.
- We will also collect bags of jerky for troops. Beef Jerky is the number 1 snack choice of the military
- Talk to the local Beef Jerky Outlet owner and customers as they try out these new jerky flavors in the brand new store.
History of Beef Jerky:
The word jerky has its origins in the native languages of South America. In the 1800s, the term “jerky” quickly spread across the new world to describe the process of smoking, drying and curing beef. American Indians, cowboys and pioneers made and embraced jerky as an easily transportable and long lasting food source. Jerky has traditionally been the No. 1 favorite snack of the military, and for years, NASA has sent it up to our astronauts in space.
Today, jerky is selling like crazy with the general population because of America’s demand for lightweight, high protein foods. Jerky is lean, high in protein and nutritional value and low in calories, carbohydrates and fat (jerky is only 3 percent fat).
• IRI, a Chicago based market research firm, reports sales of jerky jumped 46 percent from 2009-2015, catapulting it to a $1.24 billion industry.
• Jerky is in the beef snack category – the fastest growing segment of the snack food industry (Convenience Store Decisions, Nov. 2012).
• Our nation’s health craze is fueling the jerky revolution as runners, weightlifters, hikers and weekend warriors eat it before, during and after exercise.
• Jerky is a popular snack for folks on the trendy Paleo diet, which urges consumers to eat foods from their hunter/gatherer ancestors.
• Jerky is catching on for women too, because the cured, low fat snack provides an energy boost without spoiling the diet. A study at Penn State University found physically active women ages 18–45 consider jerky as more convenient and satisfying than tortilla chips.
• Chefs are now incorporating jerky into their gourmet dishes. You can find jerky on the menus of high end restaurants in Four Seasons hotels and others throughout the country.
About the Beef Jerky Outlet: