Meats by Linz,Inc.

What Meats by Linz,Inc. does

Meats by Linz, Inc. is a fourth-generation, family-owned premium meat distributor and purveyor headquartered in Calumet City, Illinois, with a new 120,000 sq ft USDA- and SQF-certified processing facility opened in 2024 in Hammond, Indiana. Founded in 1963 when Martin Linz opened a local butcher shop, the business shifted to wholesale foodservice in 1986 and has grown to approximately 400 employees serving steakhouses, fine-dining restaurants, country clubs, resorts, casinos, cruise lines, and sporting venues across the U.S. and internationally. The company operates a vertically integrated supply chain anchored by the proprietary Linz Heritage Angus Black Angus genetics program (est. 2012), the 5,000-acre Blue Branch Ranch in Byars, Oklahoma, the 10,000-head Timpas Feedlot in Rocky Ford, Colorado, and one of the largest dry-age rooms in the country (20,000-muscle capacity).

The product portfolio spans beef (Linz Heritage Angus Prime/Reserve/Choice tiers, commodity Prime and Choice, and Wagyu from U.S., Australian, and Japanese A5 sources), pork, lamb, veal, poultry, wild game and exotics, and provisions (hot dogs, charcuterie, stocks and sauces), supported by the proprietary Chicago Trim Standard cutting specification and custom portion control and wet/dry aging (2 weeks to 85+ days). Distribution is hybrid: a direct enterprise field-sales force with regional account managers covering Chicago, Texas, Florida, the Southeast, the Southwest, the East Coast, and international markets, supplemented by five regional distribution centers (Atlanta, Dallas, Orlando, Miami, Phoenix) and a direct-to-consumer e-commerce storefront, The Linz Shop.

Revenue is generated through quote-based B2B transaction pricing for wholesale protein and a smaller DTC e-commerce line, with a long-tenured customer base that includes St. Elmo Steak House, Jeff Ruby's, Maple & Ash, Ruth's Chris Steak House, STK, Kinzie Chophouse (35-year partnership), and resort and casino operators. The company has remained privately held and self-funded across four generations of Linz family leadership, with Frederick Linz (CEO, 3rd generation) and Zac Linz (COO, 4th generation) at the helm alongside a professionalized C-suite including a Chief Sales Officer, CFO (joined 2018), and senior directors in production, logistics, quality, warehousing, HR, and marketing.

Name

Meats by Linz,Inc.

Legal name

Meats By Linz, Inc.

Website

https://meatsbylinz.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1963

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Meats by Linz is a fourth-generation, family-owned premium meat distributor founded in 1963, serving steakhouses, restaurants, country clubs, resorts, casinos, cruise lines, and sporting venues via its proprietary Linz Heritage Angus genetics program, vertically integrated ranch-to-plate supply chain, and a national distribution network spanning the U.S. and international markets.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Premium Meat Distribution & Purveying

NAICS

Meat and Meat Product Merchant Wholesalers (424470), Animal Slaughtering and Processing (3116), Meat Retailers (44524)

SIC

Meat Packing Plants (2011), Sausages & Other Prepared Meat Products (2013)

akta.pro primary industry

Beef Wholesale (Primal/Subprimal, Boxed Beef) (AFAIADAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Game & Specialty Meats Wholesale (Venison, Bison, etc.) (AFAIADAG), Bulk Meat & Seafood Wholesale-to-Consumer (CRAHAMAI)

Keywords

• Premium meat distribution
• Wholesale food service
• Black Angus beef
• Custom portion control
• Dry aged beef

Headquarters

HQ city

Calumet City

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices9 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Infrastructure, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Wholesale Food Service: B2B wholesale distribution of premium beef, pork, lamb, veal, poultry, and wild game to steakhouses, restaurants, resorts, country clubs, casinos, cruise lines, and sporting venues. Custom portion control and aging programs. Primary revenue driver.
2. Direct-to-Consumer E-commerce: Retail sales through The Linz Shop (shop.linzheritageangus.com) for individual consumers to order steaks, ground beef, hot dogs, and gift packages for home delivery.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Meats by Linz is a fourth-generation, family-owned premium meat distributor and purveyor that supplies center-of-the-plate proteins to leading steakhouses, restaurants, resorts, country clubs, casinos, cruise lines, and sporting venues. Its core offering centers on the proprietary Linz Heritage Angus Black Angus program (conception-to-plate control via 5,000-acre ranch, 10,000-head feedlot, and AI/embryo transfer genetics), supplemented by sourced beef, pork, lamb, veal, poultry, wild game, and Wagyu products, with custom portion control, Chicago Trim Standard cutting, and wet/dry aging (up to 85+ days) as differentiators. A secondary direct-to-consumer e-commerce channel (The Linz Shop) sells individual cuts and gift packages to home consumers.

Product overview

Meats by Linz is a premium meat distributor and purveyor offering a comprehensive portfolio of center-of-the-plate proteins to foodservice operators including steakhouses, restaurants, resorts, country clubs, casinos, cruise lines, and sporting venues. The company operates as a single unified offering centered on its proprietary Linz Heritage Angus Black Angus genetics program, complemented by sourced proteins (pork, lamb, veal, poultry, wild game), specialty provisions, and value-added services including custom portion control and wet/dry aging programs. The product line includes signature beef cuts (Tenderloin, Strip, Ribeye, Top Butt, Top Blade, Short Rib), Wagyu offerings, and consumer-ready items like burger blends and all-beef hot dogs. The company differentiates through its conception-to-plate control model, USDA-inspected and SQF-certified facilities, and the Chicago Trim Standard for custom specifications.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Linz Heritage Angus: The company's proprietary Black Angus genetics and beef program, established in 2012, controlling every aspect from conception to plate with verified genetics, ranching operations, and feedlot management.

Products and services

• Beef Premium wholesale beef including the proprietary Linz Heritage Angus Black Angus program, commodity beef, and Wagyu offerings, featuring custom portion control and wet/dry aging programs for foodservice operators.
• Pork High-quality pork sourced from trusted partners including Compart Family Farms, Red Top Farms, Campo Grande, and Berkridge Berkshire, offering commodity and heritage breed programs with custom portion control.
• Lamb
• Veal
• Poultry
• Wild Game & Exotics
• Provisions
• Linz Heritage Angus The company's signature Black Angus genetics program established in 2012, controlling every aspect from conception to plate with verified genetics, AI and embryo transfer, Blue Branch Ranch in Oklahoma, and Timpas Feedlot in Colorado.
• Wagyu Beef
• Signature Burger Blends
• Linz Heritage Angus All Beef Franks
• Steakhouse Preferred Custom Specification & Aging Program
• Beef Aging Programs (Wet and Dry Aging)
• Custom Portion Control
• The Linz Shop Direct-to-Consumer E-commerce Direct-to-consumer retail site for ordering steaks, ground beef, hot dogs, and gift packages for home delivery.

Quantifiable outcome

• One of the largest dry age rooms in the country holding up to 20,000 muscles at one time
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers24 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

25 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Anthony Randall - Timpas FeederscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022In 2022, Fred Linz and Anthony Randall (Cattle Procurement Manager) acquired Timpas Feeders in Rocky Ford, Colorado. This 10,000-head capacity feedlot allows Linz Heritage Angus to track calves' progress including daily gains, consumption, and carcass scanning data, continuing to improve the program's genomics on the registered Angus side.
• Compart Family FarmscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPork partner supplying commodity and heritage breed programs. Provides high-quality pork cuts including ribs, chops, loin, tenderloins, racks, and shanks portion cut at Meats by Linz facility.
• Red Top FarmscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPork partner supplying Berkshire pork and additional protein options. Also provides grass-fed beef, bison, and Berkshire pork products.
• Campo GrandecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPork partner supplying Iberian pork products including Campo Grande Iberico offerings.
• Berkridge BerkshireminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPork partner supplying Berkshire breed pork products known for superior marbling and flavor.
• Superior FarmscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLamb partner supplying domestic lamb options. Leading lamb provider with quality-focused operations.
• FletchercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLamb partner supplying domestic and international lamb options to accompany Meats by Linz beef offerings.
• Provimi FoodscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVeal partner supplying custom portion controlled veal from like-minded producers following industry best practices.
• Bell & EvanscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPoultry partner supplying premium chicken that is hand trimmed, tender, flavorful, high yield, and 100% air chilled. Also supplies turkey products.
• Gerber's Amish FarmminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPoultry partner supplying Amish farm-raised poultry products with focus on quality and traditional farming practices.
• Manchester FarmsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPoultry partner supplying specialty poultry products.
• Miller PoultryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPoultry partner supplying quality poultry products to round out center of plate offerings.
• Aladora ArtisanminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDuck partner supplying whole duck, breast, confit, foie gras, and duck fat products.
• Snake River FarmscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWagyu partner supplying American Wagyu beef products known for excellent marbling and quality.
• Westholme WagyucoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWagyu partner supplying Australian Wagyu beef products with exceptional marbling standards.
• A5 Wagyu (Tohoku, Miyazaki, Kagoshima)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJapanese Wagyu partners supplying premium A5 BMS 10+ Japanese beef from Tohoku, Miyazaki, and Kagoshima regions.
• BroadleafminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWild game and exotic protein partner supplying unique and hard-to-find proteins for specialty menu offerings.
• Nueske'scoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvisions partner supplying applewood smoked meats including bacon and other smoked products.
• Stock Shop Co.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvisions partner supplying stocks, glaces, and sauces to complement center of plate proteins.
• FontaniniminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvisions partner supplying Italian-style meats and charcuterie products.
• TempestaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvisions partner supplying specialty charcuterie and salumi products.
• Fremantle OctopusminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvisions partner supplying octopus products including whole octopus, arms, and切片.
• ICON XB WagyucoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWagyu partner supplying Australian Wagyu that blends finest Japanese bloodlines with Australian landscape purity.
• Grass Run FarmsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBeef partner supplying 100% Grass Fed & Finished American Angus Beef for customers seeking grass-fed options.
• Mishima ReserveminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWagyu partner supplying American Wagyu Beef under Mishima Reserve brand.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Greater Omaha Packing Co. Produces premium boxed beef and custom portion-cut programs for high-end foodservice operators in the US. Highly comparable to Meats by Linz as they also supply premium steakhouse and white-tablecloth clients with portion-controlled, aged beef.
• Allen Brothers: Chicago-based premium steakhouse beef purveyor offering custom-cut, dry-aged beef to fine-dining establishments. Highly comparable to Meats by Linz with shared Chicago heritage, steakhouse customer base, custom portion control, and dry-aging programs.
• Snake River Farms: Supplies American Wagyu and premium dry-aged beef to fine-dining restaurants and via DTC channels. Highly comparable to Meats by Linz as they compete in the same premium steakhouse supply market and are even a current Linz Wagyu partner.
• Creekstone Farms: Produces premium Black Angus beef, including natural and antibiotic-free programs, for foodservice operators and retailers. Comparable to Meats by Linz for premium Black Angus positioning, dry aging, and supply to white-tablecloth restaurants.
• Lobel's of New York: Sixth-generation, family-owned premium meat purveyor in NYC specializing in dry-aged steaks and custom cuts for steakhouses and high-end retailers. Highly comparable to Meats by Linz with its multi-generation family heritage, dry-aging expertise, and premium steakhouse customer mix.
• Omaha Steaks: Multi-generation family business specializing in direct-to-consumer premium beef, pork, and seafood. Comparable to Meats by Linz due to family ownership, multi-protein offering, and premium positioning; differs in being primarily DTC vs. foodservice-focused.

Broad incumbents

• Certified Angus Beef: Largest branded beef program in the US, licensing the Angus brand to many packers and producers for foodservice and retail distribution. Comparable to Meats by Linz for premium Black Angus positioning but operates as a broader industry-wide licensing program rather than a vertically integrated purveyor.
• JBS USA: Largest US protein producer, providing beef, pork, and poultry across broadline foodservice and retail channels. Comparable to Meats by Linz only in broad category terms (premium beef purveying) but operates at a vastly larger scale across multiple proteins.
• National Beef Packing Company: One of the largest US beef packers, supplying boxed beef and value-added products to retail and foodservice. Comparable to Meats by Linz in being a major beef supplier to foodservice but operates at vastly larger commodity-focused scale rather than premium steakhouse specialty purveying.
• Sysco: Largest broadline foodservice distributor in North America, supplying restaurants, hotels, and country clubs with full protein portfolios including Allen Brothers post-acquisition. Comparable to Meats by Linz due to overlapping steakhouse and country club customers, though Sysco operates a broadline portfolio rather than premium-specialist purveyor model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@MeatsbyLinz1963
• Facebookfacebook.com/meatsbylinz
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/meats-by-linz-inc.
• Instagraminstagram.com/meatsbylinz
• TikToktiktok.com/@meatsbylinz

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles23 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Meats by Linz,Inc.