MONTICELLO — The exceptional quality of Alpine Boy sausage products hand crafted by Gempeler’s Supermarket in Monticello was recognized at the 83rd annual convention of the Wisconsin Association of Meat Processors (WAMP) held at the Marriott Madison West in Middleton April 7-9.
In the Meat Product Competition held during the convention, Gempeler’s Alpine Boy products crafted by Ken Gempeler received awards in six categories. In the fresh traditional bratwurst category, Gempeler’s Alpine Boy Wisconsin Style Fresh Bratwurst won Grand Champion. Ken also received Reserve Champion awards in the following product categories: fresh breakfast sausage links (Gempeler’s Pork Links): jerky, restructured (Gempeler’s Beef Jerky Strips); large diameter luncheon meat (Gempeler’s German Big Bologna); specialty ring sausage (Gempeler’s Ring Liver Sausage); and snack sausages, flavored (Gempeler’s Seven Pepper Snack Sticks).
Gempeler’s has entered its Alpine Boy products in the WAMP competition each of the past 13 years and has won two or more awards each year.
The WAMP Meat Product Competition is the largest of its kind in the United States. This year, meat markets and processing plants located throughout the state entered over 600 individual products in 38 judging categories, including summer sausage, bratwurst, ham, bacon, smoked poultry, breakfast sausage, and others. Judges, including food scientists, out-of-state meat processors and other food industry professionals, were required to effectively evaluate each entry and score it for external appearance and eye appeal, internal appearance, aroma and taste, using a scale of 1,000 points.
The size of this product show and the quality of the entries demonstrate the important role sausage and processed meats play in Wisconsin’s meat industry and for consumers across the state.
Now celebrating 50 years in business, Gempeler’s Supermarket is an independent, family owned and operated full-service grocery store and the home of award-winning Alpine Boy brand sausage products, all hand crafted on site. Other specialties include their full service fresh meat counter, hot and cold deli selections featuring made-to-order Alpine Boy pizzas and sub sandwiches, Friday fish fry, monthly steak fry, and a large selection of locally crafted cheese.
More information is available at www.GempelersSupermarket.com.
