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Koegel Meats introduces Flint Style Coney Sauce, celebrating Michigan’s coney-lovin ‘ tradition while strengthening its presence in the state’s competitive coney market.
FLINT, Mich. — Koegel Meats, Inc., one of Michigan’s most recognized family-owned meat producers, has unveiled its latest product: Flint Style Coney Sauce. The new release taps into one of Michigan’s most debated culinary traditions, drawing a clear distinction between the Mid-Michigan coney preference and Detroit’s chili-topped variant.
The announcement, made August 13 from the company’s Flint headquarters, reflects Koegel’s effort to both honor regional tastes and expand its product line as it approaches its 110th anniversary.
“We have recently developed and perfected our own recipe for a coney sauce that meets the flavor profile the local geography generally prefers: Flint Style Coney Sauce,” said John Koegel, president and CEO. “The flavor and texture are exactly what you would expect from a Flint Style coney sauce… with the quality you expect from Koegel’s.”
A Michigan Food Rivalry That Runs Deep
For decades, the debate between Flint Style Coneys and Detroit Coneys has shaped Michigan’s food culture. Flint’s version is a dry, meaty sauce made with finely ground beef heart, while Detroit’s is known for its chili-like consistency. The differences are sharp enough that entire restaurants are built around one style or the other.
By releasing a Flint version to complement its existing chili topping, Koegel Meats positions itself as a supplier capable of satisfying both sides of the rivalry. In the words of John Koegel, this “solution to better satisfy the demand for the flavors Michigan favors” gives restaurants across the state more flexibility in meeting regional expectations.
Family Business Tied to Flint’s Auto History
Koegel Meats traces its origins to 1916 when Albert Koegel, a German-trained butcher, moved to Flint at the encouragement of an Armour Foods salesman who foresaw the city’s rise as a center of the automobile industry. That prediction proved accurate, and Koegel’s reputation for sausage and hot dog production quickly spread.
Today the company produces more than 35 products, sold primarily in Michigan with limited distribution in Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Kentucky. Despite industry consolidation that has pushed many small meat processors out of business, Koegel remains privately owned and deeply tied to Flint.
Its motto, “Made Up to a Quality…Not Down to a Price,” underscores its reliance on traditional recipes and methods, some dating back more than a century.
Fourth Generation Leadership and New Growth
The company’s leadership is transitioning to its fourth generation, with Cameron Koegel recently named vice president. A graduate of Michigan State University’s Eli Broad School of Business, Cameron has already been involved in product development, including last year’s Jalapeño & Cheese sausages, which received strong customer reviews.
“As we approach the 110th year of Koegel Meats, Inc., we could not be more proud of the passion and desire Michigan expresses for our products,” Cameron Koegel said. “We are blessed immensely by our customers, our employees… and the millions of people that choose Koegel’s.”
Industry observers note that generational leadership often forces family companies to modernize. “In food manufacturing, legacy brands thrive when they remain authentic to their heritage while responding to changing consumer tastes,” said Dr. John Stanton, professor of food marketing at Saint Joseph’s University in Philadelphia, in a 2024 interview on family-owned food firms.
Michigan’s Coney Tradition
The release of Flint Style Coney Sauce reinforces Koegel’s dominance in the state’s hot dog and sausage market. Michigan’s coney culture, heavily concentrated in Flint, Detroit, and smaller towns like Jackson, has been a pillar of its dining identity for more than a century.
Restaurants, particularly in the Great Lakes Bay Region, may find new value in offering a branded Flint-style topping backed by Koegel’s reputation. It could also help standardize what has historically been a fiercely guarded set of recipes passed down by local coney shops.
Looking Ahead to 110 Years
As Koegel edges closer to its 110th anniversary in 2026, the company shows no sign of slowing down. Its growth remains tied to Michigan, but with increasing opportunities in nearby states. For now, the launch of Flint Style Coney Sauce signals a commitment to honoring regional tastes while adapting to evolving consumer demands.
For many in Flint and across Michigan, the product release is less about novelty and more about reaffirming a cultural mainstay: the coney dog.
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