The art of leather making and meat preservation have both been around for a long time. However, there aren’t many businesses that would incorporate both practices under one company aside from Saskatoon's Meat Chops Snacks.
Owner Chelsey Parker launched her company in the summer of 2015 and has been mastering both of her crafts, with a philosophy of embracing old practices, as well as ethically sourcing grass-fed animals–in particular, beef. Her line of snack products has expanded significantly from her original beef jerky to include bison and, most recently, elk. Parker also secured a partnership with Canadian Rangeland Bison & Elk last year to help take things to the next level.
“It started with me meat choppin’ beef into jerky–a.k.a. ‘road fuel’–to take on motorbike trips," says Parker "It quickly expanded and became a knowledge quest jerky journey, connecting to the deeply-rooted stories within [the Prairies] and the many species that depend upon its ecosystems.”
As you've probably gathered by now, the name of her company is an ode to both of her passions.
“I wanted to merge both of my passions of leather crafting and meat making because the raw material offering comes from the whole animal.”
She goes on to say that the name came to her organically one night in her shop. Originally, it was called Meat Chops Leather Shop, but the latter two words were later removed to avoid confusion in the food industry.
Meat Chops Snacks Canada is available to purchase online and at retailers across Western Canadian including Save-On Foods (select locations), SaskMade Marketplace and Federated Co-op in Saskatchewan, Lukes Drug Mart (Calgary) and more.
