I'd say it's passed 'Mutual' as the most identifiable Omaha tradename (no doubt to Aaron's dismay ).
InternetRetailer.com wrote:
Omaha Steaks web sales increase 23% in 2004
Expanded marketing, especially search engine marketing, helped Omaha Steaks beef up its web sales in 2004. Online sales at Omaha Steaks, a web retailer and direct marketer of high-quality meat and complementary products, hit $85 million in 2004, a 23% increase over $65 million in 2003.
“Our efforts in the area of new customer development involve working with our online marketing partners such as AOL, MSN Shopping, Amazon and Yahoo Shopping to expand our search partnerships to make it easier for new online customers to access our site,” says Jim Paschal, director of online marketing for Omaha Steaks. “We also have expanded our affiliate marketing program to allow customers to conveniently reach our web site through a multitude of links on other sites.”
A greater emphasis on marketing is also paying off in other online metrics. Omaha Steaks, one of the earliest direct marketers to open a web store more than a decade ago, reports that its average sales conversion rate is now 2.75% and that total monthly visits now average about 850,000.
“Our business strategy involves a continuing commitment to customers,” Paschal says. “We genuinely listen to our customers and work diligently to develop new products and services to serve them better. Our goal is to continually make our website more convenient to access and to use.”
Looks like the owner of the surrounding land filed suit and Omaha Steaks Lost a court finding that they did not comply with the design standards that were in place when this was built three or so years ago. Sad part it that the building permits were reviewed and approved. Would guess that this will end up costing the tax payers to "fix"
Omaha Steaks could be facing costly renovations to its 123,000-square-foot Sarpy County distribution center after losing a court fight.
From the OWH
Although Sarpy County approved permits for Omaha Steaks' metal building at Highway 370 and Interstate 80, judicial decisions mean the retailer will have to beautify it.And Sarpy County taxpayers could get part of the bill if a financial settlement is negotiated between the county and Omaha Steaks, which County Attorney Lee Polikov said may be possible.
The Nebraska Supreme Court has declined to review a Nebraska Court of Appeals ruling that found the building was erected in violation of Sarpy County's architectural rules.
The rules, adopted in 2004, were aimed at beautifying new development along highway corridors. The center was built in 2006.
The rules require buildings to be made from aesthetically pleasing materials such as stone or brick and to hide loading docks, duct work and the like. The Omaha Steaks building is metal and has unscreened loading docks.
Previously, the company has said that before buying the Sarpy County tract the building plans were "accepted and approved" by Sarpy County officials. A letter from the county's permits and inspection office said the plans were "in accordance with all zoning requirements."
The Sarpy County Board adopted the rules to keep out eyesores such as junkyards and metal sheds while requiring new buildings to use fancier architecture, signs and landscaping. The goal was to give motorists whizzing by a pleasant impression and to draw high-dollar development.
In 2005, a county building official decided that the standards did not apply to Omaha Steaks because the building was proposed in the Commerce Business Centre, a development platted in 2001, a year before the new standards were first discussed.
Dowd objected on grounds that the Omaha Steaks building required joining some lots, which he believed made the project a new development. He appealed to the Sarpy County Board of Adjustment and lost.
For the record NEBUGEATER does not equal BUGEATER !!!!!!!
nebugeater wrote:Looks like the owner of the surrounding land filed suit and Omaha Steaks Lost a court finding that they did not comply with the design standards that were in place when this was built three or so years ago. Sad part it that the building permits were reviewed and approved. Would guess that this will end up costing the tax payers to "fix"
Unfortunate thing is both that landowner and Papillion's city officials tried to warn the Sarpy officials, but Sarpy didn't agree at the time. Oh well.
Brad wrote: Tue Feb 10, 2026 8:26 pm
Anyone have a news article about Omaha Steaks ending its Restaurant business?
First, I saw a post from Jonesy's Taco House on Facebook yesterday. Late last night I saw some media posts that backed it up. Seems like a strange business decision but obviously do not know the inner details
nebugeater wrote: Wed Feb 11, 2026 6:21 am
Sounds like shutdown was without notice too and is already in effect
IMO, sounds extremely inconsiderate and unprofessional. Perhaps only a handful of restaurants used their meat for their menus... I have no clue. I imagine there were some out of state that hyped up the fact they were serving Omaha Steaks as well.
I recall seeing it promoted on menus at a few restaurants. I can tell you I would never go out of my way to dine somewhere just to have their meat. At the same time, if that's what a business has come to count on as their go-to, it's quite shady to simply shut it down with little to no warning.
What's wrong with people these days? Especially with social media, news outlets and so forth... this stuff spreads like wildfire. You would think the smart thing to do would be to try and handle it in advance, before it blows up in their face.
KETV wrote:The company also said it would exit its Foodservice business to focus on retail, ecommerce, subscription and corporate gifting channels. Omaha Steaks said it notified its Foodservice customers, including approximately 100 local restaurants in the Omaha area, and said it was working with partners to support a smooth transition.
"Yesterday afternoon, we notified our Foodservice customers, including approximately 100 local restaurants in the Omaha area, about changes to our Foodservice business. We are working closely with our partners to support a smooth transition. We truly value our local restaurant community and are grateful for the partnerships we’ve shared over the years" said Rempe.
WOWT wrote:Dan Emsick, owner of Patty McGowen’s Pub and Grill at 45th and Center, said his day started normally until he received a call from his brother.
“... and he’s like: Did you get the same text I got? And I’m like what text? And he’s like… look!” Emsick said.
The message came from a former Omaha Steaks employee stating “The division has been closed. Food service division has been closed.”
When Emsick contacted the company to verify, he received a message from Omaha Steaks saying they are cutting ties with all restaurants.
“Uh, we have decided going a different way and dissolve our partnership with you and food service businesses,” the message stated.
KETV wrote:The company also said it would exit its Foodservice business to focus on retail, ecommerce, subscription and corporate gifting channels. Omaha Steaks said it notified its Foodservice customers, including approximately 100 local restaurants in the Omaha area, and said it was working with partners to support a smooth transition.
"Yesterday afternoon, we notified our Foodservice customers, including approximately 100 local restaurants in the Omaha area, about changes to our Foodservice business. We are working closely with our partners to support a smooth transition. We truly value our local restaurant community and are grateful for the partnerships we’ve shared over the years" said Rempe.
WOWT wrote:Dan Emsick, owner of Patty McGowen’s Pub and Grill at 45th and Center, said his day started normally until he received a call from his brother.
“... and he’s like: Did you get the same text I got? And I’m like what text? And he’s like… look!” Emsick said.
The message came from a former Omaha Steaks employee stating “The division has been closed. Food service division has been closed.”
When Emsick contacted the company to verify, he received a message from Omaha Steaks saying they are cutting ties with all restaurants.
“Uh, we have decided going a different way and dissolve our partnership with you and food service businesses,” the message stated.
Hmm..
They gave them like a week's notice - shitty, especially as a locally operated company. Lost my business because of it... and we ordered for Xmas often along with buying from retail stores throughout the year.
I've only slandered Omaha Steaks name because we could get better product all around Omaha. Now I'll slander them for being a crappy provider to local businesses.
They are also a further processor only and do not slaughter. Some of their branded products are not made in-house; they are produced through contract manufacturing, even meat products.
I have never been a customer of these, but have not been anti-Omaha Steaks. Too much information from being in the related industry proves to me that they are all marketing and not providing a value-added product that cannot be obtained elsewhere for the same or a better price.
With their exit from the food service sector, the volume does not disappear. Someone else is already doing the slaughter and creating the primal cuts that they just further process and brand
For the record NEBUGEATER does not equal BUGEATER !!!!!!!
OverlookedFarm wrote: Wed Feb 11, 2026 11:46 am
Just throwing it out there, distributor/distribution costs are real. Retail has so much more margin without the overhead.
It's a business decision. So be it, I am fine with that as it stands. What I think is crappy is the reports of how little notice they gave to their customer base.
For the record NEBUGEATER does not equal BUGEATER !!!!!!!
Crescent Moon Ale House
Today we are trying to figure out who will supply us with the 20,000 lbs of corned beef we purchase annually in order to satisfy Reuben lovers from around Omaha and the 1000’s of Reuben tourists who come to Crescent Moon every year to partake in our sandwich. Today we received our last delivery from Omaha Steaks Food Service division after learning of their closure yesterday afternoon at 4:30 through a text. After 30 years of being a loyal customer we get a text, not even a kiss goodbye.
KETV wrote:The company also said it would exit its Foodservice business to focus on retail, ecommerce, subscription and corporate gifting channels. Omaha Steaks said it notified its Foodservice customers, including approximately 100 local restaurants in the Omaha area, and said it was working with partners to support a smooth transition.
"Yesterday afternoon, we notified our Foodservice customers, including approximately 100 local restaurants in the Omaha area, about changes to our Foodservice business. We are working closely with our partners to support a smooth transition. We truly value our local restaurant community and are grateful for the partnerships we’ve shared over the years" said Rempe.
WOWT wrote:Dan Emsick, owner of Patty McGowen’s Pub and Grill at 45th and Center, said his day started normally until he received a call from his brother.
“... and he’s like: Did you get the same text I got? And I’m like what text? And he’s like… look!” Emsick said.
The message came from a former Omaha Steaks employee stating “The division has been closed. Food service division has been closed.”
When Emsick contacted the company to verify, he received a message from Omaha Steaks saying they are cutting ties with all restaurants.
“Uh, we have decided going a different way and dissolve our partnership with you and food service businesses,” the message stated.
Hmm..
They gave them like a week's notice - shitty, especially as a locally operated company. Lost my business because of it... and we ordered for Xmas often along with buying from retail stores throughout the year.
Everything I have seen by businesses impacted says that there was a one-day notice and no notice other than electronic communications.
For the record NEBUGEATER does not equal BUGEATER !!!!!!!
Most of the restaurants (if not all) that sourced beef from them locally are small companies. To shaft them with a day's notice (or even a week), is incredibly insensitive and unprofessional, to say the least. Omaha Steaks WAS a locally owned and operated small company at one time as well. This is not how you treat your customers.
Regardless of it being a smart business decision for them in the long run, they could have certainly provided better notification and sucked up a few inconvenient issues by doing so. Instead, they chose to leave them high and dry like they don't care. And the clown on the news with OS last night didn't help plead their case.
A lot of things seemed to have changed with the new CEO. Even when they became huge the family that ran it was still local. Now it’s all bottom dollar decisions made by someone with no local ties, and it’s really unfortunate.
Flyer14 wrote: Thu Feb 12, 2026 2:34 pm
A lot of things seemed to have changed with the new CEO. Even when they became huge the family that ran it was still local. Now it’s all bottom dollar decisions made by someone with no local ties, and it’s really unfortunate.
If you want to order online and have the beef shipped somewhere instead of going to a butcher shop, there is a local place called Oak Barn Beef in West Point, Nebraska. Its a small family run business and they ship anywhere in the US.
Flyer14 wrote: Thu Feb 12, 2026 2:34 pm
A lot of things seemed to have changed with the new CEO. Even when they became huge the family that ran it was still local. Now it’s all bottom dollar decisions made by someone with no local ties, and it’s really unfortunate.
Agreed - and although off topic, the concept is the same. The Mart is heading down that path as well... Although bringing in outsiders to help at upper level roles may make good business sense, it reduces the family values and principles that helped originally build up the business.
Not even that long ago, Omaha Steaks would have put a family member on the news to help explain/justify their decision. This guy was some outsider who couldn't care less.
I have issues with their near monopoly on restaurant food distribution, but this unfortunate supply crisis is easily solved with one call to Sysco or U.S. Foods.
jessep28 wrote: Thu Feb 12, 2026 4:34 pm
I have issues with their near monopoly on restaurant food distribution, but this unfortunate supply crisis is easily solved with one call to Sysco or U.S. Foods.
That near monopoly by Sysco and US Foods might also mean significantly higher prices for these restaurants that are likely already operating on thin food margins.
Flyer14 wrote: Thu Feb 12, 2026 2:34 pm
A lot of things seemed to have changed with the new CEO. Even when they became huge the family that ran it was still local. Now it’s all bottom dollar decisions made by someone with no local ties, and it’s really unfortunate.
If you want to order online and have the beef shipped somewhere instead of going to a butcher shop, there is a local place called Oak Barn Beef in West Point, Nebraska. Its a small family run business and they ship anywhere in the US.
I have been in the store and bought from them a few times. Great famly run business. Give them a try, and if you are in West Point during the time they are open for retail, stop in and "meat" them. ( pun intended)
For the record NEBUGEATER does not equal BUGEATER !!!!!!!
Omaha Steaks has lost most of its credibility with Nebraskans insofar as being a source of quality beef. It certainly has some national name recognition, but how many Nebraskans do you know that brag it up to others or prefer the Omaha Steaks brand? Anytime it comes up on social media it usually gets destroyed in the comment section. So, it was always silly to me to go into a local restaurant and see an Omaha Steaks logo on their menu. Like, "Umm... that's not the flex you think it is."
Years ago we ate at a popular, rather tourist centric restaurant here in PV and the menu “bragged” that their beef came from Omaha Steaks. We just snickered.
nativeomahan wrote: Fri Feb 20, 2026 4:38 pm
Years ago we ate at a popular, rather tourist centric restaurant here in PV and the menu “bragged” that their beef came from Omaha Steaks. We just snickered.
Many years ago, I was at a work event in the Myrtle Beach, SC area. Don't remember the hotel, but it was on the nicer end. One of the two in hotel resturants was Branded as Omaha Steaks with all the official branding promoted all over. .... Didn't eat there.
For the record NEBUGEATER does not equal BUGEATER !!!!!!!
I just saw on the news this evening that OS donated food to the food bank. I’m not posting a link because IMO they’re simply trying to save face after screwing over several local businesses.
They could donate $1 million and I will never buy from them again. I think it’s sad that the news even gave them airtime.
EricHaley wrote: Mon Feb 23, 2026 10:37 pm
A friend of mine said the Drover got all its meat from OS, but that can’t possibly be true, can it?
Originally I would have said "Never" but the more I think about it, I guess its' possible they could? The restaurant end of Omaha Steaks business was basically just a wholesaler of meat. If OS could source the cuts and quality they were looking for, then maybe the did? I would assume its no different than a grocery store like HyVee who sells a boat load of the standard cuts of meat, but also has the higher end stuff for people who want it? I know Gorat's at one people when they re-opened said they got their stuff from OS. And the Crescent Moon got the Corn Beef for their world famous Ruben from OS.
I made a comment in another thread where someone was complaining about sysco. I said you don't have to buy the frozen bag of pre-made cheese sticks, sysco sells raw ingredients too. I wouldn't be shocked if the restaurant side of OS sold a lot more than the cuts and quality you see in the gift boxes from the retail side of OS.
djc311 wrote: Mon Feb 23, 2026 6:12 pm
I just saw on the news this evening that OS donated food to the food bank. I’m not posting a link because IMO they’re simply trying to save face after screwing over several local businesses.
They could donate $1 million and I will never buy from them again. I think it’s sad that the news even gave them airtime.
In point of fact, Omaha Steaks has donated to the food bank and many other organizations for many years. This is not for saving face, this is because it is what they have done for a very long time.
djc311 wrote: Mon Feb 23, 2026 6:12 pm
I just saw on the news this evening that OS donated food to the food bank. I’m not posting a link because IMO they’re simply trying to save face after screwing over several local businesses.
They could donate $1 million and I will never buy from them again. I think it’s sad that the news even gave them airtime.
In point of fact, Omaha Steaks has donated to the food bank and many other organizations for many years. This is not for saving face, this is because it is what they have done for a very long time.
I understand that and actually assumed they didn't do this as a one-time act of charity. However, the fact they took the initiative to announce it to local news to cover is "probably" an act of trying to save face after they received some not so positive media exposure over the past couple of weeks. Several other local businesses also donate to the food bank, perhaps with more food than OS did without receiving free publicity from doing so.
ChadJK wrote: Mon Feb 16, 2026 11:22 am
Omaha Steaks has lost most of its credibility with Nebraskans insofar as being a source of quality beef. It certainly has some national name recognition, but how many Nebraskans do you know that brag it up to others or prefer the Omaha Steaks brand? Anytime it comes up on social media it usually gets destroyed in the comment section. So, it was always silly to me to go into a local restaurant and see an Omaha Steaks logo on their menu. Like, "Umm... that's not the flex you think it is."
Unless the place butchers animals in-house or strictly deals with a small supplier, it's all coming from the same boxed beef processing plants. People are paying for a name.
).
