Power Profile: Matt Bormann, CEO, Western Smokehouse Partners

There is no shortage of protein-packed snacks, also known as meat sticks, when Matt Bormann, CEO of Western Smokehouse Partners, is around. He keeps hundreds on hand and often shares test batches – to the point he joked that his neighbors are probably tired of meat sticks. The driving factor is that he is passionate about his work. “I love this company. I love the people. I believe in what we do,” Bormann said. “People are reading labels, eating more protein, and paying attention to what they are putting in their bodies.”

Western Smokehouse Partners is the leading contract manufacturer of “better-for-you” meat sticks. The company touts clean labels and no additives or artificial flavors. And they are rapidly growing in this space. Next year, when their Iowa plant is up and running, they will have a processing capacity of 44 million pounds - up from 7 million pounds a few years ago. 

To support Western Smokehouse Partners’ growth, Bormann had to consider either expanding its current plants or opening a new facility. The company first looked at a plant outside of Missouri, but that facility needed a bigger transformer and a substation upgrade, which it would be responsible for. When the company turned to expanding the Greentop, MO plant, Bormann said Ameren Missouri was a great partner on the necessary upgrades and through the economic development incentive process. 

“That helps make the decision to expand right here in Missouri, to grow here,” Bormann said. “Next time we build a plant, I will be hard-pressed to not see it here in Missouri because of how beneficial it is to work with the state, including Ameren Missouri. It’s a very business-friendly environment, and Ameren adds to that.”

Bormann added that another benefit - one not as visible when working correctly - is that Ameren Missouri provides consistent, reliable power.  

“You flip on the light and expect it to turn on. If it doesn’t, you have a problem, right? That’s when you know about electricity,” Bormann said. “You have to have a reliable energy source to be successful in food production. If we lose power for 30 minutes, it can ruin thousands of pounds of meat. That's a large part of why we are expanding our business in Ameren Missouri's territory…they provide reliable power.”

The Greentop plant does not experience power interruptions unless there is a catastrophic event. The reliability allows Western Smokehouse Partners to process the raw meat into stick form without compromising entire batches. 

“Ameren has been an absolute great partner,” Bormann said.

Bormann joined Western Smokehouse Partners in 2019 as the chief financial officer before taking on the role of chief executive officer. “It was a no-brainer to continue my evolution and lead this company through the next several waves of growth.” 

The “healthier-for-you” meat stick market is still in the early days, and Bormann is looking forward to seeing what the company he leads can accomplish in the space.