Omaha Steaks

Omaha Steaks International, Inc.

Company type	Private
Industry	Food production, retail, mail order, gourmet foods
Predecessor	Table Supply Meat Co.
Founded	1917 in Omaha, Nebraska, United States
Founder	J.J. Simon and family
Headquarters	Omaha , United States
Area served	United States, international
Key people	Todd Simon (Chairman and Chief Steak Evangelist), Nate Rempe (President and CEO)
Products	Steaks, meats, seafood, prepared food items, appetizers, side dishes, desserts
Number of employees	Approximately 1,500 year-round; over 3,000 seasonal (2020)
Website	omahasteaks.com

Omaha Steaks International, Inc., commonly referred to as Omaha Steaks, is a privately owned American company that focuses on producing, promoting, and distributing steaks, meats, seafood, and prepared food items. Headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, the company operates across the mail order, retail, and gourmet food sectors.

History

The origins of the company trace back to 1850 when Lazar Shames founded a meatpacking plant and butcher shop in Riga, then under Russian Empire control. In 1898, his son J.J. and grandson fled persecution, immigrating to the United States. Upon arrival, they adopted the surname Simon and settled in Omaha, a city burgeoning with meatpacking activity. By 1917, the family had established their own meat-cutting enterprise called Table Supply Meat Co., located in downtown Omaha.

In 1924, the business moved to Omaha’s Old Market district and broadened its sales reach to include supermarkets, grocery chains, hotels, and institutional clients. Lester Simon joined the company in 1929 and expanded distribution networks further. During the 1940s, the firm partnered with Union Pacific Railroad to supply dining cars on transcontinental routes.

The mail-order segment was initiated in 1952 utilizing train shipments preserved by dry ice. Advancements in the 1960s—such as insulated foam containers, vacuum sealing technology, and direct parcel shipping—allowed Omaha Steaks to develop into a direct-to-consumer marketer. The launch of catalogs in 1963 diversified their product range beyond beef to include poultry, pork, seafood, side dishes, and desserts. The company adopted the Omaha Steaks brand name in 1966 and transitioned to a new production facility.

Retail operations commenced with a single store in Omaha in 1976; by 1985, expansion extended to Houston and additional markets. As of 2021, Omaha Steaks operated 48 retail outlets across 20 states. Its business model integrates direct mail order sales with retail operations alongside foodservice distribution catering to restaurants and institutional clients.

Omaha Steaks was among the pioneers in digital marketing efforts. It placed its inaugural online advertisement on CompuServe in 1991 and established a strong presence on America Online as well as its own website by 1995, generating roughly 20,000 monthly customer responses. In 1998, the company joined the Microsoft Network and expanded corporate and marketing offices adjacent to its telemarketing center.

This blend of traditional sales methods with innovative digital platforms has played a crucial role in Omaha Steaks’ growth in market share and consistent performance within the specialty food industry.

Operations

Omaha Steaks produces, markets, and distributes an assortment of steaks and other meats including seafood, chicken, and pork along with appetizers, side dishes, and desserts. Headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, it ranked as the city’s 24th largest employer as of 2020. The workforce comprises approximately 1,500 employees year-round and expands to over 3,000 seasonal workers during peak holiday periods. The company operates three manufacturing plants, two distribution centers, a freezer warehouse facility, and corporate plus marketing offices.

Its domestic and international reach covers foodservice supply chains, mail order sales, incentive programs, telesales operations, retail stores, licensed restaurants, specialty food outlets, and interactive sales channels. The website Omahasteaks.com functions as a distinct entity aimed at improving online customer experience. Shipments are delivered in insulated coolers using dry ice; during peak seasons up to 100,000 packages are dispatched daily. Retail locations provide the same product assortment available through mail order.

Todd Simon holds the position of chairman and chief steak evangelist while Nate Rempe serves as president and chief executive officer.

Branding and marketing

Omaha Steaks promotes itself with the slogan "America's Original Butcher," delivering high-quality steaks through innovative packaging and shipping methods. The company was a trailblazer in direct-to-consumer sales and employs an omnichannel marketing strategy that heavily relies on teleservices and direct mail. Its early integration of telemarketing, fax ordering, and e-commerce complements its efforts across direct mail campaigns, digital marketing, and physical retail outlets. In the mid-1990s, Omaha Steaks expanded its reach into the corporate sector by launching a specialized catalog aimed at business customers.

Since 1958, Omaha Steaks has maintained a continuous advertising presence in The New Yorker, making it the longest-standing advertiser in that publication.

In 2014, the company was involved in a class-action lawsuit concerning unsolicited robocalls, ultimately resolving the matter with a $2 million settlement in 2016.

Prominent figures associated with the brand include chef James Beard during the 1970s and cookbook author Merle Ellis in the 1980s. In 2010, Omaha Steaks secured the trademark for "The Official Sponsor of Tailgating." More recently, in October 2020, chef David Rose was named executive chef and spokesperson to lead product innovation and guide brand strategy.

Cookbooks

Frederick J. Simon, the great-grandson of founder J.J. Simon, authored The Steaklover's Companion in 1997. This cookbook was created in collaboration with well-known American chefs and intended as the first installment of a series. The following year saw the release of Beef For All Seasons. Since then, Omaha Steaks has produced multiple cookbooks such as The Great Gathering Guide and Cookbook, Omaha Steaks: Let's Grill, and Omaha Steaks: Meat, all contributing to strengthening the company's brand identity and culinary expertise.

Philanthropy

Omaha Steaks demonstrates a strong commitment to philanthropy by supporting a variety of charitable causes, arts institutions, and scholarship programs at both local and national levels. Organizations benefiting from their support include the Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts, Film Streams, Santa Fe Opera, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, National Multiple Sclerosis Society, American Heart Association, American Cancer Society, and Big Brothers Big Sisters of America. The company also collaborates with disaster relief organizations such as Mercy Chefs and partners with food assistance groups like Feeding America and Food Bank for the Heartland, reflecting its dedication to corporate social responsibility and community involvement.

Television

• Omaha Steaks appeared on CNBC's The Big Idea (December 5, 2006)
• Featured on Hell's Kitchen (December 10, 2014)

Cookbooks

• Harrisson, John, and Frederick J. Simon. Omaha Steaks: Let's Grill. Clarkson Potter, New York, 2001.
• Harrisson, John, and Frederick J. Simon. Omaha Steaks Meat. C. Potter, New York, 2001.
• Simon, Frederick J., John Harrisson, and Mark Kiffin. The Steaklover's Companion: 170 Savory Recipes from America's Greatest Chefs. HarperCollins, New York, 1997. Features recipes created in collaboration with longtime advisor James Beard.
• Simon, Frederick J., and John Harrisson. A Year of Beef Recipes: Beef for All Seasons. HarperCollins, New York, 1999.
• The Great American Grilling Book. Time, Inc. Home Entertainment, New York, 2008.
• Annual publication: Omaha Steaks International Good Life Guide and Cookbook
• Complimentary Great Gathering Guide & Cookbook, which offers cooking advice alongside discount coupons

See also

• Direct marketing
• Gourmet foods