| HISTORY of DANNY'S WHOLE HOG BBQ & SMOKEHOUSE Excerpted from "Family Connections" - June 2003 Originally part of a Hutterite colony, Danny and his family have headed out on their own, bringing with them 20 years of experience in providing whole hog barbeques. Danny, now in his second year of business, has overcome many challenges. To start, Danny needed financial backing. Because he had very little experience with borrowing money, he had to work hard to establish a credible relationship with his financial provider. This was crucial for start-up, as well as for future expansion. With his finances in order, Danny relied on the support and hard work of his family. All hands were needed to get the meat processing plant ready to meet provincial standards. Danny contacted the local public health inspector prior to building to ensure all building standards were met. This plant, built on his property [near Stonewall, Manitoba], also needed to meet all the necessary municipal requirements. Once the plant was built, advertising was the next step Danny tackled. Promotion was crucial. He not only developed literature and business cards, but also developed key relationships with local businesses, radio stations and newspapers. Danny took advantage of the opportunity to provide a hog barbeque with on partner in exchange for some advertising time and ads. It was a win-win situation for both. During the first summer of operation, Danny and his family gained valuable experience while providing their services. As their business grew, it was important to Danny to give thanks back to the community. As a result, he developed a strategic partnership with Krave's Candy company, another Manitoba business. Together, they've worked many charity events, each donating their products. Diversification was the next step. He expanded his menu to include beef barbeques. As well, Danny expanded his operation to include a full line of smoked pork products including: smoked hams, farmer's sausage, bacon products, ribs and his famous garlic sausage. These products are currently available for purchase at his location. While Danny has plans to distribute his meat products to other retail outlets in the area, for now he's focused on building relationships with his existing customers and partners like the owners of Little Mountain Sportsplex, just north of Winnipeg. They provide a facility for up to 400 people and offer Danny's exclusive catering options to their clients. While the thought of business growth can seem scary at times, Danny realizes it's the key to his success. With his endless supply of creative ideas, growth and change are inevitable. He says, "Who knows where they will take me. Only time will tell." While most of us associate barbeques with summer time, Danny's services are available year round. |