Karl Ehmer

What Karl Ehmer does

Karl Ehmer is a privately held, family-founded specialty food company headquartered at 507 Brown Court in Oceanside, New York, that has been in continuous operation since 1932, with a 90th anniversary milestone observed in 2022. The company produces and distributes an extensive catalog of authentic German and European meat products, including frankfurters, bratwurst, knockwurst, weisswurst, kielbasa, blood pudding, hams, bacon, salami, liverwurst, and smoked meats, alongside imported specialty foods (sauerkraut, red cabbage, breads, mustards, spaetzle, dumplings, puddings, chocolates, and cookies), branded apparel under the Kleider Apparel sub-brand, gift certificates, and curated family dinner and holiday packages. All meat products are formulated to be MSG-free, nut-free, and gluten-free with lower sodium, with the sole exception of Pinkelwurst, and are manufactured by hand using traditional artisanal German methods rather than automated industrial processes.

The business operates through three primary channels: a direct-to-consumer e-commerce storefront at karlehmer.com with a stated catalog of 165+ products across 14 shop pages; a wholesale division serving retail buyers and professional chefs via a separate pricing and contact path; and a network of physical retail locations in the New York metro area, supported by a Where to Buy directory. Fulfillment is handled through UPS, with frozen product shipment restricted to the continental United States and a minimum order threshold of $50. The company does not disclose revenue, funding, or headcount beyond indicating 1-10 employees, and operates without institutional investment, parent company, or public listing.

The customer base is dominated by long-term individual consumers, several of whom reference multi-decade purchasing relationships in testimonials, supplemented by retail buyers and chefs sourcing through the wholesale channel. Pricing is unit-based with no subscription component, gift certificates are sold in $50, $75, and $100 denominations, and family dinner packages are priced between $47.99 and $135.95. Marketing is conducted through the company website, an email newsletter powered by Constant Contact, and a recipe blog used as content marketing, with no paid acquisition or social media channels disclosed.

Name

Karl Ehmer

Legal name

Karl Ehmer

Website

https://karlehmer.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1932

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Karl Ehmer is a privately held German and European specialty food company founded in 1932, headquartered in Oceanside, New York, that sells artisanal sausages, hams, smoked meats, and imported accompaniments to individual consumers, retail buyers, and chefs via DTC e-commerce, wholesale, and physical stores across the continental US.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Specialty Meat Products

NAICS

Animal Slaughtering and Processing (3116), Meat and Meat Product Merchant Wholesalers (424470), Meat Retailers (445240)

SIC

Sausages & Other Prepared Meat Products (2013), Meat Packing Plants (2011), Food And Kindred Products (2000)

akta.pro primary industry

Pork Further Processing (Cured, Smoked, Ham, Bacon) (AFANABAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Hot Dogs, Frankfurters & Bologna (Emulsified/Comminuted Meats) (AFANAEAG), Deli Meats & Luncheon Meats (Sliced/Portioned Cold Cuts) (AFANAEAD), Butcher Shops & Meat Markets (CRAHAHAB)

Keywords

• German meat products
• Artisanal sausages
• Specialty deli meats
• Smoked hams
• European specialty foods

Headquarters

HQ city

Oceanside

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Direct Product Sales: Primary revenue from selling German meats, sausages, hams, and specialty foods directly to consumers through e-commerce and wholesale channels. Products are one-time purchase items with no subscription component. The company also sells apparel merchandise (t-shirts, sweatshirts, hats, aprons) and gift certificates.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Karl Ehmer manufactures and sells traditional German meat products including sausages, deli meats, hams, and smoked meats, complemented by imported European specialty foods. The company distributes its products through a direct-to-consumer e-commerce website, a wholesale division for retail buyers and chefs, and physical retail locations in the New York area.

Product overview

Karl Ehmer is a German meat and deli specialty company operating an e-commerce platform for direct-to-consumer sales. The company offers an extensive portfolio centered on premium German and European specialty foods, with core products being various sausages (bratwurst, knockwurst, frankfurters, kielbasa, bockwurst, blood pudding) and smoked meats (hams, bacon, pork shoulder). The product line is complemented by imported European specialty foods including sauerkraut, red cabbage, breads (pumpernickel, rye), mustards, spaetzle, dumplings, puddings, chocolates, cookies, and seasonal items like Lebkuchen and Christ-Stollen. The company also sells curated family dinner packages and holiday-themed bundles, plus branded apparel (Kleider Apparel line including sweatshirts, t-shirts, hats, aprons, beanies) and gift certificates. All meat products are MSG, nut, and gluten-free (except Pinkelwurst). Products are handmade in the traditional manner and shipped frozen to maintain quality.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Kleider Apparel: Apparel line including T-shirts, sweatshirts, hats, beanies, and aprons featuring the Karl Ehmer logo

Products and services

• Pork and Beef Frankfurter Premium pork and beef frankfurter sausage, one of the company's signature products, sold at $10.99.
• Knockwurst Traditional German-style knockwurst sausage, priced at $10.99.
• German Bratwurst Classic German bratwurst sausage made with premium pork and beef, priced at $10.99.
• All Beef Frankfurters All beef frankfurter sausages, priced at $13.49.
• Pinkelwurst Popular traditional German sausage, priced at $15.99; the one product not in the MSG, nut, and gluten-free line.
• Weisswurst (Bockwurst) Traditional Bavarian white sausage, also known as Bockwurst, priced at $10.99.
• Deli Liverwurst Quality deli liverwurst and pâté product, priced at $8.69.
• Seitenwurst (Long Wieners) Long wiener-style German sausage, priced at $10.99.
• Krainerwurst Traditional Austrian-style Krainer sausage, priced at $10.99.
• Bologna Chub Deli bologna sausage in chub packaging, priced at $7.39.
• Polish Kielbasa Ring Smoked Polish sausage ring made with pork and flavored with pimento, cloves, and garlic. Price: $16.99.
• Hungarian Kielbasa Twin pack of Hungarian-style kielbasa using assorted spices, paprika, and garlic. Price: $11.49.
• Nuremberg Sausage Made from coarsely ground pork seasoned with marjoram, salt, pepper, ginger, cardamom, and lemon powder; one of the most popular sausages in Germany.
• Hams Hardwood smoked ham selection including Black Forest Ham, Baby Boneless Hams, Old Country Style Ham, Spiral Hams, and Smoked Bone-In Ham (whole 26-27 lbs up to $223.66).
• Bacon Various bacon products including Double Smoked Bacon.
• Smoked Meats Variety of hardwood smoked meats including pork shoulder butt, ham hock, and turkey breast.
• Irish Bangers Traditional Irish-style pork sausage seasoned with herbs and spices. New product launched in March 2025.
• Kuhne Green Kale Gluten-free, lactose-free, vegetarian, and vegan kale prepared using an old recipe; pairs well with Pinkelwurst. New product launched in January 2025.
• Pilsudski Mustard Collection Line of gourmet mustards including Bacon Jalapeno, Dill Pickle, Polish Style with Horseradish, Sriracha, Sweet Hot with Honey, and Wasabi varieties. Launched in August 2025.
• Hengstenberg Mildessa Mildes Weinsauerkraut German sauerkraut in 18oz jar, known for its mild, well-balanced flavor and subtle taste of wine. Launched in July 2025.
• Kuhne Barrel Sauerkraut Traditional German sauerkraut from a 28.5oz jar, made with white cabbage and salt.
• Kuhne Red Cabbage Imported German red cabbage that pairs well with sausages, ham, and pork chops; available in 12oz and 24oz sizes.
• Salami and Dry Sausage German salami and dry sausage varieties including Landjaeger, German Salami, and Black Kassel varieties.
• Liverwurst, Pâtés and Chubs Liverwurst, pâté, and chub products including Head Cheese, Leberkase, and Teewurst.
• Family Dinner Packages Pre-packaged family dinner bundles (Family Dinner #1-6) containing combinations of hams, sausages, and side dishes, priced $47.99-$135.95.
• Holiday Item Packages Seasonal holiday packages including BBQ Package, Sausage Sampler, Game Day Package, Fathers Day Packages, Oktoberfest Package, and Handmade Steinbech Christmas Ornaments.
• 90th Anniversary Package Special anniversary package with curated selection of premium meats and specialty items, commemorating 90 years of business in 2022.
• Kleider Apparel Line Branded apparel line including pullover sweatshirts, crewneck sweatshirts, T-shirts, hats, beanies, and aprons featuring the Karl Ehmer logo.
• Karl Ehmer Crewneck Sweatshirt Crewneck sweatshirt with Karl Ehmer logo, available in Medium, Large, XL, and 2XL sizes. Launched in January 2026.
• Gift Certificates In-store gift certificates available in $50, $75, and $100 denominations, redeemable on any products.
• Irish Blood Pudding Authentic Irish Blood Pudding in natural casing, used as a side dish with eggs; comes in a 2-pack. Price: $13.89.
• Wholesale Meats Division B2B wholesale division serving retail buyers and professional chefs with dedicated wholesale pricing and volume-based arrangements.

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature1 record

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Schaller & Weber: Iconic Upper East Side German butcher and deli founded in 1937. Sells a nearly identical catalog of German sausages, smoked hams, and imported European specialty foods to NY-area customers, making it the closest direct competitor to Karl Ehmer's core assortment and customer base.
• Kiolbassa Smoked Meats: Texas-based craft sausage and smoked-meat maker with national DTC shipping. Comparable to Karl Ehmer as a specialty sausage brand selling premium smoked meats direct-to-consumer alongside wholesale foodservice distribution.
• Usinger's: Milwaukee-based German sausage maker founded in 1880, famous for its ring bologna, bratwurst, and liverwurst. Closely comparable to Karl Ehmer as a long-running, family-run specialist in traditional German-style prepared meats.
• Hebrew National: Kosher frankfurter and deli meat brand with national retail distribution. Comparable to Karl Ehmer in the emulsified sausage/frankfurter category and similarly appeals to consumers seeking a specialty-credentialed, higher-quality alternative to commodity hot dogs.
• Koegel's Meats: Flint, Michigan-based regional sausage maker specializing in German-style frankfurters, bologna, and coneys. Directly overlaps with Karl Ehmer's emulsified sausage category while operating at a larger regional scale.

Broad incumbents

• Aidells Sausage Company: Premium specialty sausage brand (owned by Tyson) with national grocery distribution. Comparable to Karl Ehmer's craft sausage positioning but at much broader scale, providing direct competition in the premium sausage category.
• Johnsonville: Largest US sausage brand, dominant in bratwurst and Italian sausage categories. Represents the scaled competitor that has begun introducing craft and specialty-style sausages, directly challenging Karl Ehmer's authentic positioning.
• Old Wisconsin Foods: Large sausage and smoked-meat producer with strong Midwest roots and broad grocery distribution. Comparable to Karl Ehmer in sausage category but operates at much larger commercial scale.
• Dietz & Watson: Philadelphia-based premium deli meats and specialty foods company with national distribution. Overlaps with Karl Ehmer on premium deli meats, hams, and sausages but at materially larger scale.
• Boar's Head: National deli-meat brand offering German-style products (Black Forest ham, knockwurst, bratwurst). Represents the scaled, broadly distributed incumbent that competes with Karl Ehmer on shelf placement and price.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/KarlEhmerSmoked
• Facebookfacebook.com/karlehmer.smokedmeats
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/karl-ehmer

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Karl Ehmer