MONTICELLO — The exceptional quality of Alpine Boy sausage products hand crafted by Gempeler’s Supermarket in Monticello was recognized at the 2021 convention of the Wisconsin Association of Meat Processors (WAMP), held at the Marriott Madison West in Middleton August 27-29.
In the Meat Product Competition held during the convention, Gempeler’s Alpine Boy entries received awards in six product categories. In the fresh traditional bratwurst category, their Alpine Boy Wisconsin Style Bratwurst won Reserve Grand Champion. In the specialty ring sausage category, their Fully Cooked Kalberwurst (Veal Sausage) took Reserve Grand Champion, and their Fresh Kalberwurst received the Reserve Champion award in the fresh dinner sausage category. In the luncheon or jellied loaf category, their Old Fashioned Loaf won the Champion award. They received honorable mention in the fresh breakfast sausage category for their Fresh Pork Sausage Links, and in the fully cooked specialty bratwurst category for their Fully Cooked Beer and Onion Bratwurst. Gempeler’s has entered products in the WAMP competition each of the past 12 years and has won two or more awards each year. (No competition was held in 2020 because of COVID-19 restrictions.)
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 500 individual products into 36 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 in its 49th year of operation, 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 at Gempeler’s include their full service fresh meat counter, hot and cold deli selections featuring made-to-order Alpine Boy pizzas and sub sandwiches, and a large selection of locally crafted cheese. More information is available at www.GempelersSupermarket.com.
