In the Beginning
Fanestil Meats was established in the early 1940’s with the concept of bringing fresh beef and pork to the local grocery stores in Emporia and the surrounding area. As a quality, small, slaughter and meat processing facility, the company expanded its geographical market to include the eastern half of Kansas. The company continued to expand into cooked products such as hams, bacon, hot dogs and a full line of finished meat products. Just about every hickory tree within 100 miles of Emporia was harvested to use at Fanestil to provide the hickory smoke flavor used in many of the products.
Jan and Dan Smoots purchased Fanestil Meats in 1997 with a partner and bought him out in 2005. At that time, Fanestil Meats was still located on the banks of the Cottonwood River, just south of Emporia. The Cottonwood River had an unenviable reputation for flooding, frequently disturbing the ability to not only run but to adequately ship products in and out of the plant.
Realizing the original location wasn’t sustainable for future growth, they began the process of investing in a location on West Hwy 50 of 12 acres. In 2015. The first phase of construction spanned 23,000 square feet, far from rising water and close to Interstate 35. It included a warehouse in addition to office space and retail space for the fresh local market. In early 2023, the second phase added 47,000-square-foot of production space to the new facility.
Into The Future
As for the growth opportunities, the strategy is to focus on blowing up the capacity of hot dogs and sausages, bacon and ground products, and with a much larger plant, Fanestil is equipped and ready to take on
that additional production. They now have the capacity to grow by 75%.
Fanestil’s is proud of its reputation for producing what is said are some of the best hot dogs and bacon in this part of the country. The company is perhaps best known for its deli-style, Party Time Ham, Turkey, Chicken, Roast Beef and Pastrami. The regionally famous, sous-vide-cooked ham has been a Fanestil signature item for over 60 years. The owners say that the 98% lean pork delivers a smoky flavor, and it is dipped in a caramel covering to deliver “a party in your mouth.”
Fanestil’s “Fresh Local Market” retail store is a showroom for hundreds of items, including a wide variety of Streaks, Chops, Chicken & value-added meats, whole muscle cuts, whole hams, ham steaks and locally sourced ingredients as well as a full-service deli that includes an array of cheeses, sliced deli meats, bologna and specialty items. The retail operation also features local suppliers products such as snacks, honey, jam and jellies, spices and rubs, cheese curds and other specialty items.
Fanestil’s has earned a reputation as a locally legendary processor of ready-to-eat, fresh and smoked and cooked, value-added meats for local and regional retail customers. Its trucks deliver to customers in a radius of approximately 150 miles. The fleet includes nine refrigerated trucks, most of which are on the road making deliveries every day.
Fanestil Meats Food Service division supplies restaurants, schools, hospitals, hotels, casinos and other institutional and hospitality-based customers through agreements with its Midwest wholesaler partners. Its products are also featured at local wineries and smaller, independent grocers. State and county fairs and festivals and carnivals in the region and across the USA are customers of Fanestil’s, which can supply them with hot dogs, hamburger, hotlinks bratwursts, and other festive foods.
The holiday season is always a big windfall for the company, especially orders for hams from companies for their employees, several of which include orders of 2,000 plus hams. Gift boxes are also in high demand during the holidays, with orders coming from the yearly distribution of tens of thousands of their holiday collection brochures.
Going Forward
When asked about their business philosophy and reasons for success, the answer was “When you have a great product - “PARTY TIME HAM” - don’t mess it up.”
Dan and Jan Smoots were raised with the Midwest work ethic and Midwest respect, which they believe
They take great personal pride in growing their Holiday Business. Dan and Jan also receive a lot of satisfaction knowing they are providing good jobs for their 100 employees.
Other points for their success include:
• We Never Ever Quit or Give Up!
• We are small enough that we can change and adapt quickly when an opportunity presents itself.
• We share our success with our people and that creates loyalty.
• We believe in controlling our cost and increasing our sales.
• We are not afraid to be judged and look forward to constructive criticism.
• We get up every day looking forward to going to work and taking care of the business.
• We are at a great time in our history to be a business owner and a provider of the highest-quality food to customers.
• We work and live in a great rural Midwest community that has a lot to offer. 2005 Chamber Business of Year
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