WAUPACA COUNTY POST

July 15, 2004

Bear Creek Company Leads World’s Kraut Sales

By Brian Bull, Wisconsin Public Radio

Summertime means hot dogs, and for serious connoisseurs, nothing tops a red-hot better than the pickled cabbage condiment known as sauerkraut.

While sauerkraut is said to have originated in ancient China, most people associate it with Germany’s robust cuisine. But that nation’s status as the "Kraut Capital" is being threatened by a Bear Creek company that claims to crank out the most sauerkraut in the world.

Ryan Downs is general manager of the Great Lakes Kraut Co., which, between its Wisconsin and New York plants, put out 137,000 tons of the sour slaw last year. The entire country of Germany reportedly put out 118,000 tons.

Downs says Great Lakes produces about 70 percent of the sauerkraut consumed in the U.S., where the concoction enjoys a good following despite being renamed "Liberty Cabbage" during World War I.

Americans are expected to eat 397 million pounds of sauerkraut this year, at either ball parks or German restaurants. It remains one of the most popular condiments for hot dogs, second only to mustard.

Backers of the pickled treat say it’s low-carb, high in vitamins and rich in fiber. Marketers are trying to entice consumers to try it in standard recipes, such as suchi, brownies, pizza and coconut macaroons.

While German sauerkraut promoters have every reason to be bitter over being outpaced by a Wisconsin company, at least one is upbeat. Eckart Hengstenberg, president of the European Sauerkraut Producers, congratulated Great Lakes Kraut Co. for its marketing and production, and asked them to further increase sauerkraut consumption across the globe.