Another bargain from Aldi’s (locator) this week was their “Lunch Mate” brand hard salami at $2.99 for an 8 ounce resealable pack, making is $6 per pound. Compare with your grocery deli counter, and you almost always save 30-50%.
The product is made by Patrick Cuhahy’s Wisconsin plant, USDA establishment 28. Cudahy, founded in 1888, is a brand that is part of the John Morrell Food Group, which is in turn, owned by Smithfield, which is now owned by Chinese investors. Many, many Smithfield/Morrell sub-brands come through this factory, here’s just a few:
Armour Food Company, Armour-Echrich Meats, LLC Butterball, Carando, Carolina Turkey, Cook’s Ham, Inc,. Country Lean, Curly’s Food Inc., Decker Food Company, Eastbay Packing Co,. Farmland Foods, Inc., Farmstead, Gwaltney Hunter, Krey Packing Co,. Hunter Packing Co., John Morrell & Co., Kneip, Krakus Foods International, Kretschmar Brands, Inc., Krey Packing Co. Lakeview Lundy’s Maple River Brand Mohawk Provision, Inc. Moseys, Northside Foods OhSe Partridge Meats, Inc. Patrick Cudahy Peyton Packing Co., Inc. Premium Farms, Premium Pet Health, Premium Standard Farms, Quick-To-Fix, Racorn, Inc., Rath Blackhawk, Inc., RMH Foods, Rodeo Meats, Inc., Roegelein Selective Petfood Services, Inc, Smithfield Foods, Inc., Smithfield Packing Co., Spring Hill Brand, Stefano Foods, Tobin’s First Prize Meat Co., Valleydale, Inc.
The salami is a thin sliced, slightly-smoked, pork and beef product with seasonings and the usual curatives. It’s quite flavorful, and I said above, a really good value. Cudahy makes a pepperoni (under their name) I like, too, which is often value-priced at the market.
Cudahy is currently planning to expand the plant, located just between the Milwaukee airport and the shore of Lake Michicgan. Pictures of the plant below from Google street view (if accurate).
Hungry now? Here are some salamis that ship.
Lunch Mate Hard Salami Review