In 1981 Lee Holsman, Gayle, and 3 year-old Aaron moved to Albia, Iowa. In 1984, Lee wanted to start a snack food distribution business, so he went to the bank and borrowed $5,000 (his sister had to cosign for him as he was new in town). With the loan Lee purchased a Volkswagen Rabbit as his first delivery vehicle, and $3,000 worth of beef jerky and other snacks. He began by calling on taverns, then convenience stores, then truck stops, then chains of convenience stores, and finally grocery stores. He would start a route, hire a driver to deliver to those stores, and then he would go out and get more stores. He always insisted on top notch service for his customers. As Aaron got older, he would ride along with Lee. When Aaron turned 18 he began running routes, and today he handles a lot of the business himself. After many years of distributing other company’s products, Lee and Aaron decided to create their own, and the IOWA SMOKEHOUSE brand was born. Now selling in all 50 states, IOWA SMOKEHOUSE has grown to include jerky, sticks, steak bites, kippered slabs, summer sausage and more. Providing a wide range of styles, flavors, and pack sizes to meet the needs of everybody. Eventually this was followed by a unique line of all-natural jams, salsas, and pickled goods under the label Laura Beth’s. With these new and growing product lines, their customers have expanded to include many Farm and Home/Ranch stores and they now ship to major distribution centers of large corporations across the U.S. From the humble beginnings of selling and delivering products out of a Volkswagen Rabbit, Preferred Wholesale, Inc. has grown into the thriving business it is today. But it is still Lee, Gayle, Aaron and his wife Laura, driving the business. We at Preferred Wholesale still proudly insist on only high-quality products and top-notch service for our customers. | Family owned and operated premium meat snack company. We offer a true turnkey meat snack program, second to none. Beyond jerky and sticks we offer steak bites, kippered steak, stubbies, meat & cheese combo sticks, and more in a range of pack sizes from single serving to bulk. Our eye-catching, wooden covered wagon displays, loaned to qualified retailers at no charge, are a big hit with meat departments wanting an off-shelf solution to drive additional profits with a brand that doesn’t overlap the ordinary few sold from the snack aisle and check stand. | Top Quality, Delicious Meat Snacks! Tasting is Believing! | IOWA SMOKEHOUSE – Offering the finest lineup of tasty jerky and quality meat snacks nationally! The Holsman Family – Proud founders, owners and operators still today! History – Started in the Meat Snack Distribution business (Preferred Wholesale, Inc.) in 1984, providing quality snacks to retailers. From those early days of experience and key learning, IOWA SMOKEHOUSE was born in 2012! Today – IOWA SMOKEHOUSE is shipped and sold nationally across various retailer channels! | After many years of distributing other company’s products, Lee and Aaron decided to create their own, and the IOWA SMOKEHOUSE brand was born. Now selling in all 50 states, IOWA SMOKEHOUSE has grown to include jerky, sticks, steak bites, kippered slabs, summer sausage and more. Providing a wide range of styles, flavors, and pack sizes to meet the needs of everybody. With this new and growing product line, their customer base has expanded to include Farm and Home/Ranch stores, Hardware and Lumber, Sporting Goods, Grocery, Truck Stops, and many more, with products now shipping to major distribution centers of large corporations across the U.S.
Fossil Farms
Fossil Farms is a mission driven company guided by principles. We don’t want to be the biggest, but we do want to be the best. That means consistently having the best quality products and the best service in the industry. We are pioneers in providing healthy and sustainable alternatives to conventional red meat, specializing in the highest quality farm raised wild game, game birds, exotic meats, and all natural meats in the country. Since 1997, and to this day, Fossil Farms operates under the firm belief that the conventional meat industry needs to change. Whether you call it industrial animal agriculture, factory farming or concentrated animal feed operations, the fact remains that what’s good for operational efficiency is most often in conflict with what’s good for the planet and the health of the individual consumer. The truth is there is no such thing as cheap meat. The externalized costs of factory farming have negative effects on the welfare of animals, the natural environment and the integral quality of the product itself. We have been challenging the status quo for over 25 years and are driven to do things differently in order to make significant impact in our industry and create more access to, and demand for, sustainable and healthy alternatives to conventional meat. When we first started our family-owned and operated business in 1997, we introduced chefs in the New York Metropolitan market to farm raised Ostrich and Bison, which were considered “exotic meats” at the time. Our goal was to educate chefs about the health benefits of our products and provide something truly different they could put onto their menus. We quickly found that chefs sought more options that were raised by our simple standards, and thus our product line began to expand to include other specialty meats and cuts. Over 25 years later, our product line has grown to well over 500 items, all of which are 100% all natural, source verified, and sustainably raised.
FloVision
FloVision uses modular AI vision solutions to measure, optimize, and control protein production. Our compact sensors attach to conveyor belts and workstations to automatically measure yield, quality, and staff performance – unlocking real-time feedback, KPI reporting, and benchmarking across facilities.
Faerch
We are a leading manufacturer of recycled content trays for the foodservice and processing industries. We specialize in trays for all applications – overwrap, heat-sealed, MAP. Featuring all sizes and special project availability.
Charcuterie Artisans
Charcuterie Artisans is a leading provider of premium specialty charcuterie. The company primarily goes to market under the “Creminelli Fine Meats,” “Daniele,” “Del Duca,” and most recently “La Quercia” brands and can be found in leading retailers and food service outlets throughout North America. In addition, the company provides private-label and contract manufacturing for many leading national customers. With roots extending back to 1945, Charcuterie Artisans has a long history of developing and producing innovative, on-trend artisanal meats. The company is headquartered in Mapleville, RI, and employs over 700 team members across 660,000 sq/ft of USDA-regulated manufacturing space across its three manufacturing locations in Mapleville, RI, Salt Lake City, UT, and now Norwalk, IA.
Carl Buddig and Company
For more than 80 years, Carl Buddig & Company has been a family-owned leader in the meat industry, delivering high-quality, flavorful, and convenient protein solutions to consumers nationwide. As a trusted name in deli meats, meat snacks, and specialty protein products, we are committed to innovation, quality, and tradition. Our portfolio includes a diverse range of products designed to meet the evolving tastes and needs of today’s consumers. From our signature Buddig Original thin-sliced lunch meats to our authentic, high-quality Kingsford BBQ meats, we offer delicious, protein-packed options for every occasion. We’ve also expanded our expertly crafted Old Wisconsin hardwood-smoked meat snacks and introduced Yumbo, a bold and satisfying beef stick brand designed for today’s on-the-go snacker. At Carl Buddig & Company, we are dedicated to quality craftsmanship, sourcing the finest ingredients, and delivering exceptional flavor in every bite.
Applestone Solutions LLC
Applestone’s vending and smart fridge software solution brings flexibility, intelligence, and scalability to self-service fresh food sales. Whether dispensing everyday goods or managing highly perishable products like meat, seafood, and prepared foods, Applestone helps businesses expand their reach, boost sales, reduce wait times, and deliver 24/7 sales experiences. Applestone’s software was originally designed to sell meat with greater safety, intelligence, and regulatory compliance than other leading vending software systems. Unlike any other fresh food vending system, Applestone’s solution tracks inventory at the item level – including individual item details like weight, lot number, expiration date, and price. Retailers always know exactly what’s in stock and where – a crucial capability when dealing with perishable foods that require strict inventory oversight. While Applestone’s solution can sell any kind of product, it’s still the gold standard for butchers, specialty grocers, food producers, supermarkets, and food service brands. From preventing the sale of expired items to issuing automated alerts for temperature fluctuation events, our software reduces waste, improves operational efficiency, and protects brand reputation. Merchants benefit from real-time reporting on sales and inventory, remote diagnostics, and actionable data analytics that optimize restocking, pricing, and location performance. We’ve partnered with a wide variety of hardware manufacturers, allowing us to offer everything from high-capacity refrigerated machines, smart fridges, frozen food machines, and refrigerated and frozen smart lockers. The open architecture of our cloud-based solution allows it to integrate easily with your preferred payment devices, point-of-sale platforms, loyalty programs, and inventory management systems. As a proud member of the Meat Institute, we’re thrilled to be making our debut at the Annual Meat Conference and look forward to meeting retailers and operators who are ready to give vending a try. | Applestone’s vending and smart fridge software solution brings flexibility, intelligence, and scalability to self-service fresh food sales. Whether dispensing everyday goods or managing highly perishable products like fresh prepared foods, meat, and seafood, Applestone helps businesses expand their reach, boost sales, reduce wait times, and deliver 24/7 sales experiences. Applestone’s software was originally designed to sell fresh foods with greater safety, intelligence, and regulatory compliance than other leading vending software systems. Unlike any other fresh food vending system, Applestone’s solution tracks inventory at the item level – including individual item details like weight, lot number, expiration date, and price. Retailers always know exactly what’s in stock and where – a crucial capability when dealing with perishable foods that require strict inventory oversight. While Applestone’s solution can sell any kind of product, it’s the gold standard for butchers, specialty grocers, food producers, supermarkets, and food service brands. From preventing the sale of expired items to issuing automated alerts for temperature fluctuation events, our software reduces waste, improves operational efficiency, and protects brand reputation. Merchants benefit from real-time reporting on sales and inventory, remote diagnostics, and actionable data analytics that optimize restocking, pricing, and location performance. We’ve partnered with a wide variety of hardware manufacturers, allowing us to offer everything from high-capacity refrigerated machines, smart fridges, frozen food machines, and refrigerated and frozen smart lockers. The open architecture of our cloud-based solution allows it to integrate easily with your preferred payment devices, point-of-sale platforms, loyalty programs, and inventory management systems. (Ask us about our ID verification capabilities for regulated products!) We’re excited to be exhibiting at the National Automated Merchandising show and look forward to meeting retailers and operators who are ready to discover the future of fresh food vending.
Amylu Foods
Amylu Foods is a Female founded, high-growth natural CPG company with over a century of tradition rooted in using fresh ingredients and hand-crafted recipes. As the pioneers of chicken sausage, we blend innovation with experience, bringing bold, fresh flavors to the table. From our Chicago roots, we’ve grown into a passionate, dedicated team of food enthusiasts, leading the category with our creative recipes, small-batch production, and constant flavor innovation. Celebrating 100 years of culinary craftsmanship, we’re expanding our offerings and distribution nationwide, launching new and exciting products that continue to redefine the protein category.