Burke Corporation
Encyclopedia
Burke Corporation is a manufacturer of pizza toppings and other fully cooked meat products for use in the restaurant
, foodservice
and prepared foods industries. Burke is headquartered in Nevada, Iowa
, with a second production facility in Ames, Iowa
. The company specializes in custom product formulation for supply to private foodservice labels, serving more than 1,600 commercial customers.
In 1984, the major production line was moved from Ames to its current location in Nevada, Iowa
. In 1991, Bill Burke Sr. handed presidency of the company to his son, Bill Burke Jr.
Recent expansions in 2002 and 2004 include the addition of an automatic cleanroom
and expansions to production and freezing capacity.
In August 2007, Hormel Foods
, based in Austin, Minnesota
, purchased Burke Corporation. The company continues to be run by Bill Burke Jr.
, sausage
products and sandwich meats. The company also manufactures custom meat products for commercial foodservice clients.
Burke meats are sold throughout the U.S. under the Burke labels and private labels, and are carried by broad-line and specialty distributors. Formulations include standard recipes or custom blends requested by customers.
Burke cooked meat products are also exported to Canada
and other worldwide markets. Burke products are represented in Canada by Chase Global Foods.
Restaurant
A restaurant is an establishment which prepares and serves food and drink to customers in return for money. Meals are generally served and eaten on premises, but many restaurants also offer take-out and food delivery services...
, foodservice
Foodservice
Food Service or catering industry defines those businesses, institutions, and companies responsible for any meal prepared outside the home...
and prepared foods industries. Burke is headquartered in Nevada, Iowa
Nevada, Iowa
Nevada is a city in and the county seat of Story County, Iowa, United States. The population was 6,798 in the 2010 census, an increase from 6,658 in the 2000 census. It is also part of the 'Ames, Iowa Metropolitan Statistical Area', which is a part of the larger 'Ames-Boone, Iowa Combined...
, with a second production facility in Ames, Iowa
Ames, Iowa
Ames is a city located in the central part of the U.S. state of Iowa in Story County, and approximately north of Des Moines. The U.S. Census Bureau designates that Ames, Iowa metropolitan statistical area as encompassing all of Story County, and which, when combined with the Boone, Iowa...
. The company specializes in custom product formulation for supply to private foodservice labels, serving more than 1,600 commercial customers.
History
The business began in Ames, Iowa in 1957 as a frozen pizza producer, under the name Pronto Foods. Bill Burke Sr. joined the company as operations manager in 1964 and purchased the company in 1967. In 1974, the frozen pizza arm was sold, and the company began producing and marketing meat pizza toppings under the new name of Burke Marketing Corporation.In 1984, the major production line was moved from Ames to its current location in Nevada, Iowa
Nevada, Iowa
Nevada is a city in and the county seat of Story County, Iowa, United States. The population was 6,798 in the 2010 census, an increase from 6,658 in the 2000 census. It is also part of the 'Ames, Iowa Metropolitan Statistical Area', which is a part of the larger 'Ames-Boone, Iowa Combined...
. In 1991, Bill Burke Sr. handed presidency of the company to his son, Bill Burke Jr.
Recent expansions in 2002 and 2004 include the addition of an automatic cleanroom
Cleanroom
A cleanroom is an environment, typically used in manufacturing or scientific research, that has a low level of environmental pollutants such as dust, airborne microbes, aerosol particles and chemical vapors. More accurately, a cleanroom has a controlled level of contamination that is specified by...
and expansions to production and freezing capacity.
In August 2007, Hormel Foods
Hormel
Hormel Foods Corporation is a food company based in southeastern Minnesota , perhaps best known as the producer of Spam luncheon meat. The company was founded as George A. Hormel & Company in Austin, Minnesota, U.S., by George A. Hormel in 1891. The company changed its name to Hormel Foods...
, based in Austin, Minnesota
Austin, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 23,314 people, 9,897 households, and 6,076 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,168.2 people per square mile . There were 10,261 housing units at an average density of 954.3 per square mile...
, purchased Burke Corporation. The company continues to be run by Bill Burke Jr.
Products
Burke Corporation’s range of fully cooked meat products include various meat pizza toppings, as well as a range of cured meatsCuring (food preservation)
Curing refers to various food preservation and flavoring processes, especially of meat or fish, by the addition of a combination of salt, nitrates, nitrite or sugar. Many curing processes also involve smoking, the process of flavoring, or cooking...
, sausage
Sausage
A sausage is a food usually made from ground meat , mixed with salt, herbs, and other spices, although vegetarian sausages are available. The word sausage is derived from Old French saussiche, from the Latin word salsus, meaning salted.Typically, a sausage is formed in a casing traditionally made...
products and sandwich meats. The company also manufactures custom meat products for commercial foodservice clients.
Burke meats are sold throughout the U.S. under the Burke labels and private labels, and are carried by broad-line and specialty distributors. Formulations include standard recipes or custom blends requested by customers.
Burke cooked meat products are also exported to Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
and other worldwide markets. Burke products are represented in Canada by Chase Global Foods.