This year, Alexian Pâté & Specialty Meats is celebrating an auspicious anniversary. The family-owned, certified Women Owned company is celebrating 35 years in business—with new product offerings to add to its impressive line of sausages, crackers, and—of course—all-natural pâtés made with no additives or preservatives.
I recently had the opportunity to chat with Alexandra Tierney, Vice President of Operations, about the company’s new products, its history, and the what makes Alexian an exceptional presence in specialty food.
Q: Tell me a little about Alexian’s 35 years in specialty food?
Groezinger Provisions, the parent company of Alexian, was started by my father, Ewald Groezinger, in 1982. Although our company turns 35 years old this year, its heritage and recipes are much older than that! Ewald was born in Stuttgart, Germany, into a long line of German wurstmachers (“sausage makers”), dating back generations, and became one himself, as he apprenticed with his father in his early years. At a young age, he left Germany with dreams of sharing his craft of fine European charcuterie with America and so he began producing sausages, pâtés, and other European-style delicacies here in this country.
In 1994, he passed away unexpectedly, and my mother Laurie assumed leadership of the business. She is the creator of the brand name Alexian, naming it after me and my brother Ian.
Q: Let’s talk a little about the new products Alexian has introduced this year: can you tell me a little about your new specialty crackers?
We are thrilled to have launched our very first Alexian Specialty Cracker!
We created the cracker as a complement to pate, cheeses, and other spreadables. The flavor is a simple, traditional Olive Oil & Sea Salt cracker, which is crispy and light in texture, so the cracker topping remains the star of the show. The crystals of sea salt add just a tad of extra flavor to take the topping up a notch.
They are made with three simple, recognizable ingredients, are Non-GMO Project Verified, Kosher, and Vegan as well. Creating a cracker to complement our pate was a no brainer—simple, all natural ingredients just like our pates, and it is a brand many customers already know and trust.
Q: What is the packaging for this new product like?
Creating the packaging was one of the most exciting parts of launching this new product. The outer carton was designed to be a pleasure to both the eyes and the taste buds, and I feel confident in saying that we achieved that! Don't you just want to reach into the photos and eat that Bucheron & Honey or the Duck Liver Mousse and fig?!
The package is a single 4 oz sleeve which makes it the perfect amount to partner with a slice of our pate. For customers in need of a quick and easy hors d'oeuvre to take to a party or serve to a few dinner guests, picking up a slice of Alexian Pate and a package of Alexian Crackers is all they need. We like to make it easy!
Q: I understand the company has released two new sausages as well?
Yes! We have two Alexian smoked sausages which we have re-named and re-sized. We felt that our smoked sausages should be part of a product LINE rather than as standalone items. Formerly known as Alexian Saucisson Smoked Sausage and Rosemary Smoked Sausage, these two sausages are now part of the Alexian Saucisson line, of which there are currently two flavors: Garlic and Rosemary.
We have also re-sized both of them to a smaller, more convenient 9 oz size, down from the original 12 oz. New name, new size…same great flavor!
Smoked and ready-to-eat, they can be enjoyed at room temperature, or can be warmed to your liking using the pan, grill, or even baked into a dish. They are made with real, simple ingredients and nothing artificial, just like our pates and crackers. They are made with premium quality meats, which are free from added hormones and antibiotics and do not contain any nitrites or nitrates.
The Rosemary is made with pork, duck, and pheasant meats, rosemary and port wine, and is absolutely divine when pan fried and mixed into scrambled eggs! Or try mixing it into your Thanksgiving stuffing. And our Garlic sausage is made with premium quality pork and beef and resembles a European-style kielbasa. Delicious grilled or pan-fried and served with mustard as an hors d'oeuvre or on a crusty roll.
We at Deli Market News congratulate Alexian on 35 years and wish them the best in the next 35. For more on exceptional companies and product offerings in our industry, stay tuned.
