Our History
In 1896 a Lithuanian immigrant named Michael Miniat journeyed to Chicago and started a business distributing meat. Other than a horse and wagon, his only asset was his willingness to satisfy his customers’ needs. Though much has changed since Michael’s time, our family continues his commitment. This century-old promise is both our legacy and our future.
1896- Michael begins peddling meat on a horse drawn wagon on the south side of Chicago
1917- Ed Miniat, Sr. begins working in the family business
1920′s- Horse and wagons are replaced with motorized trucks
1958- Ed Miniat, Sr., Ed Miniat, Jr., and Ron Miniat form Ed Miniat Incorporated
1966- Miniat transitions from peddling meat to fabricating boxed beef
1972- Miniat buys South Chicago Packing Company at 945 W. 38th Street and enters the edible rendering business
1978- South Chicago Packing Company starts refining process
1980′s- Michael and David enter the business and develop the Miniat cooking process
1996- Miniat builds a state-of-the-art cooked meat facility in South Holland, Illinois
2007- David Miniat named chairman for the American Meat Institute, 2007–2008
2009- Miniat opens “The Culinary Center” and new Headquarters on the premises of the South Holland Cooked Meat Plant
2011– Ed Miniat, Inc. was chosen as the Loyola Family Business Center’s Large Family Business of the Year for 2011