History of Ellison Meat Company 

In the middle of the great depression era, Edgar (Duke) Ellison had a dream--a Minneapolis neighborhood butcher shop to serve the public and the restaurant trade. 1934 was a tough time to start a business, but with hard work and commitment to quality and consistency, Duke's dream became a prosperous reality.  In 1946 Kent Ellison joined his father working his way from delivery boy to President.  In 1969 the business continued to grow and in 1971 Ellison Meat Company relocated to a large new plant in Minneapolis. We expanded more in the 1970's and 80's to Willmar, MN, Howard, SD, and Pipestone, MN.  In 1990 all Ellison operations were consolidated into our new state-of-the-art plant at Pipestone. Located 150 miles southwest of Minneapolis, it provides the best of low cost production, skilled workers, and the world's finest cattle and hogs. It was a good decision and the company continues to prosper.   

 In 1996 Kent decided to retire and sold Ellison Meat Company to members of the Pipestone System, a consortium of tri-state area pork producers.  Duke's old time quality and consistency was nothing new to the high tech pork producers known across the nation for cutting edge genetically designed hogs.  It was a perfect marriage of quality producer/farmers and a quality meat processor. 

 Even though we are owned by pork producers, Ellison Meat Company continues to offer a broad range of beef and pork products for both retail and food service customers; portion control, retail prepricing, private label, fresh or frozen items.  We can custom package and offer innovative pricing programs.  We do business the way you want it done. 

 We process USDA Choice beef steaks and ground beef products which include our patented Ultimate Beef hamburgers.  Our pork department produces whole loins, tenderloins, pork chops, sausage links and patties, pork ribs and roasts. 

Our plant is a model USDA HACCP facility. All raw material is inspected and tested in our in-house microbiologist staffed USDA approved lab.  Fast, efficient operating lines and conveyors move product through our plant, with spiral blast freezers locking in flavor, color and quality.  Our Total Quality Control program impacts all phases of operation.  In addition, our autonomous Quality Assurance Department protects the integrity of all that we do. 

Continuous training for our employees as well as our commitment to maintaining state-of-the-art equipment guarantees the best meats available anywhere. 

From a small depression meat market to a national and world wide meat processor, Ellison Meat Company continues to grow and remains steadfast to Duke's original principle of quality and consistency.