Origin

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After years of managing retail meat operations our founder, Dave Shepard, established Meat Solutions, LLC. In 1995. At the time, the information that retail meat executives needed to make decisions, was limited to what was available in systems created for grocery products. With the advent of personal computers, retail meat operations could use technology to provide better information for random-weight meat products.

The vision for Meat Solutions was to create systems to ensure accurate decision-making could be made for random-weight meat products. Meat organizations invested in the vison, and Value-Based Meat Management (VBMM) system applications were created for random-weight meat products, resulting in lasting meat industry benefits.

Standards have always played a major role at Meat Solutions. In 1997, working with meat organizations, the random-weight U.P.C. system was updated to provide a complete system for retailer adoption. While working in retail, our founder worked with industry associations on the Uniform Retail Meat Identity Standards (URMIS) system.

Begin with the End in Mind

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For more than twenty-five years, Meat Solutions, Inc. has had one simple truth that guided the company’s journey - begin with the end in mind!

In the meat industry, the end is always the consumer, regardless of the business model. At Meat Solutions, Inc. we believe that standards have a huge influence on the consumer. Standards drive tracking and tracing of meat products that ensures safe, wholesome, quality products for consumers. Standards improve productivity, provide product identification and inventory control, that reduce supply chain cost. Standards improve the entire supply chain's ability to make accurate management, marketing, and buying decisions that ensures variety and competitive prices for the consumer.

Our Team

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We have more than a century of combined experience in the retail meat and information technology (IT) industries, developing and implementing meat standards.

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• Dave Shepard

  Standardization, Planning, and Implementation

  As owner and founder of Meat Solutions, Inc., Dave’s background knowledge of the retail meat industry reflects more than three decades of service leading market innovation on behalf of the nation’s number one grocery chain. Dave created Meat Solutions, Inc., in 1995 as a response to agency and industry requests for his unique expertise. Today, Dave’s insights into the meat business, its standards, and its consumers drives the company’s mission to provide unrivaled technology solutions to meet ever evolving needs.

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• Ryan Kroll

  Software Developer and IT/Systems Specialist

  Ryan joined Meat Solutions, Inc., in 2002, adding his strengths in software development, database management, and application design to the business. Holding two degrees from George Fox University, one in Computer Science and the other in Information Science, Ryan has proven himself to be a significant innovator and contributor to Meat Solutions’ success.

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• Devin Shepard

  Training & Marketing Specialist

  Devin remembers the origins of Meat Solutions as she assisted with bookkeeping and administrative tasks in 1995 when her father started Meat Solutions. Devin brings 25+ years of business experience to the table, with specializations in training, development, marketing, and change management. She has a bachelor’s degree in Communication from Colorado State University and a master’s degree in Corporate Education from Colorado Christian University.

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• Jason Hardgrave

  Programmer and Web Designer

  Jason started working for Meat Solutions, Inc., in 2012, and has applied his skills with technology to help the company develop and maintain responsive industry websites. Jason’s eleven-year career in both print design and web development continues to support the company’s active outreach to its clientele.