Oct 10, 2008 - 07:05:03 CDT
One of the biggest cheerleaders for North Dakota products is going out of business.North Dakota Branded Beef at 3120 E. Broadway plans to close its doors after business on Oct. 18.
"We wanted to give people a full two weeks heads up because we have a wonderful selection of Pride of Dakota products,"said owner Jaunita Braun.
The store is the largest carrier of North Dakota products, carrying about 300 Pride of Dakota products from about 60 different suppliers, as well as selling various state-raised beef.
In fact, the original intent of the store was to sell meat born, raised and processed in state. But once they closed their processing plant in August, they couldn't find an economically feasible way to process their meat in-state.
"It simply wasn't making it. It was too big just to do local processing, and we were too small of a company to compete on a national level,"Braun said. "Then, without that processing plant in place, we can't get our meat dry-aged anywhere. And no other plant could do all of the processing we did in one place."
Shipping it around would have cost too much, she said.
Because the meat was the bulk of their business, they have to close. She's hoping, though, that someone will take her place in selling the Pride of Dakota inventory.
"It started from (meat), and it grew into providing a consolidated retail location for hundreds of North Dakota products,"she said. "In the last two years, we have worked to promote them all over."
Chuck Fleming with Pride of Dakota said the Brauns will be missed.
"Iadmire their determination to promote North Dakota, and I think it's something that every company should emulate,"Fleming said.
North Dakota Branded Beef opened two years ago and won Pride of Dakota's retailer of the year award in 2007.
Braun isn't sure where she'll work after the store closes, but said she'd like to help someone else sell Pride of Dakota inventory. She noted that last year, around Christmas, her store sent off nearly 100 gift baskets and packages a day.
"I would dearly love to have a business in Bismarck come forward and put this in their already established inventory," she said.
(Reach reporter Crystal R. Reid at 250-8261 or at crystal.reid@;bismarcktribune.com.)
Nuttinbutfact wrote on Oct 16, 2008 11:14 AM:
wondering wrote on Oct 15, 2008 3:19 PM:
Independent wrote on Oct 13, 2008 11:30 AM:
BL wrote on Oct 12, 2008 12:21 AM:
ddd wrote on Oct 10, 2008 4:34 PM:
MamaMia wrote on Oct 10, 2008 3:04 PM:
Thanks to all at NDBB wrote on Oct 10, 2008 2:56 PM:
It's not that really amazing what a little TLC will do when raising, processing and marketing good food! Glad to have had the place around.
There is 'California' wine, 'Wisconsin' cheese, how about marketing 'estate' grown ND Beef the same way?? Thanks again for your good efforts. "
to Norm wrote on Oct 10, 2008 1:07 PM:
I wish the Brauns well!! (are these the same Brauns that own the oil & lube place??) I'll have to be sure to stop & get some yummy steaks before you close. "
randy wrote on Oct 10, 2008 12:33 PM:
We need cheap fuel. We need it now. Pomeroy thinks we should jump for joy that we're paying 2.99 a gallon in Fargo now. What a joke. This is what happens when Earl Pomeroy represents North Dakota. Vote this guy out of office.
Duane Sand promotes cheap fuel and thus promotes North Dakota business. "
Bono wrote on Oct 10, 2008 12:29 PM:
sad to hear wrote on Oct 10, 2008 12:05 PM:
Front Row Seat wrote on Oct 10, 2008 11:51 AM:
Thanks for taking the risk and providing us with such a great service!! "
Rich wrote on Oct 10, 2008 11:51 AM:
Best Of Luck wrote on Oct 10, 2008 11:39 AM:
Dan B wrote on Oct 10, 2008 11:34 AM:
You were and are an inspiration to all of us. As your cousin, I always saw that "spark" that told me you would excel. You are a valuable commodity for Pride of Dakota and will surely be tapped for our experience and knowledge.
We all love you, Alvin and the great team at NDBB.
Your parents would be proud of you.
Dan B "
beebee wrote on Oct 10, 2008 10:52 AM:
To DAVE wrote on Oct 10, 2008 10:20 AM:
BF wrote on Oct 10, 2008 9:59 AM:
them out. "
Bismarcker wrote on Oct 10, 2008 9:42 AM:
Dave wrote on Oct 10, 2008 9:26 AM:
Anj wrote on Oct 10, 2008 8:53 AM:
KP wrote on Oct 10, 2008 8:34 AM:
Law wrote on Oct 10, 2008 8:12 AM:
Here is her quote in the Bismarck Tribune from August 3 2008. "Now there is other places," she said. "I think it will be less financially painful to have them process at other places." Obviously it didn't work out the way she thought. Govenor Hoeven has no control over business decisions made by the owners. "
Thanks for everything wrote on Oct 10, 2008 8:06 AM:
This is nuts wrote on Oct 10, 2008 8:01 AM:
I am sure it is price, it costs more to dry age beef, which is why very few do it, but it tastes better. How can a small operation compete with the huge processing plants hiring illegals.
Someone selling natural local beef with a store in north Bismarck would do great. There is a shop in Mandan that people drive to from Bismarck for great beef. I asked them where they get there meat and guess what, they get it from the huge slaughter houses like every one else; what the world!!!
This has nothing to do with the Mandan feedlot, which will bring in Canadian cattle, duh!!! "
Norm wrote on Oct 10, 2008 7:53 AM:
rancher wrote on Oct 10, 2008 7:31 AM:
You really don't know the whole story - and it has nothing to do with Gov. Hoeven. The Brauns owned the processing plant in Harvey, but they found it was too far away to work efficiently, so they shut it down themselves.
Running meat back and forth from Harvey to Bismarck was not cost effective. "
Jeff wrote on Oct 10, 2008 7:21 AM:
Wow wrote on Oct 10, 2008 6:17 AM:
once again wrote on Oct 10, 2008 4:45 AM:
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