Company History
Shortly after returning from the Pacific Theatre at the end of World War II, Henry A. Kern founded Kern Meat Company with the philosophy of customer service.

In 1970, Henry A. Kern invited his son-in-law Dennis Markwardt and daughter Tina Markwardt to join the family business. Under their stewardship, Kern Meat Company grew considerably in size and reputation. In 2008, Dennis and Tina Markwardt’s son-in-law, Matt Sherman, joined the family business as general manager in the midst of completing his doctoral studies in American history at Saint Louis University. Working closely together, Dennis and Matt acquired an exclusive license to buy and sell Certified Hereford Beef®, established a fresh-cut steak program for five Midwest food service companies, developed a long-term strategic marketing campaign to rebrand Kern Meat Company, and streamlined Kern Meat Company’s ordering, processing, and delivery operations through the implementation of new techniques and innovative technology.

Kern Meat Company has grown to become one of the most recognizable names in the St. Louis and the Middle West for providing quality USDA-inspected meat. Most recently, we were selected by the members of the American Culinary Federation (ACF) Chefs de Cuisine Association of St. Louis as the 2009 Purveyor of the Year, and in 2012, Dennis Markwardt was awarded the T.C. Dubois Chen Award from the ACF Chefs de Cuisine Association of St. Louis for his professional commitment to the foodservice industry.

Mission Statement
Our business philosophy includes five important principles:
•  Produce only the highest quality meat products
•  Source products from the best regions and from reputable 
   companies that are committed to humane handling practices
•  Work closely with local farmers and ranchers to showcase 
   Missouri’s rich agricultural heritage and preserve our precious 
   natural resources
•  Provide outstanding service to our customers



Kern Meat Company, Inc.

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