ahead of the curve

While catching up on my morning emails, I stumbled across this article from MeatingPlace: 

GNP Launches Chicken Sausage Line.  I literally laughed out loud, then called GNP out for stealing my novel idea, and reverted to myself as a genius clearly ahead of my time!  

All of these clearly rational thoughts and ideas, as you may remember from a previous blog, are a result of the product I developed in my processed meats course this semester.  Myself being innovative and consumer driven decided to put forth efforts in creating a Cajun Chicken Sausage.  A product that would provide flavor and a healthier alternative to pork and beef RTE products.  So now, only after being out of class for one week and basking in successful product development, I am baffled that my idea paralleled that of a national company in providing poultry products: Gold 'n Plump.

Behind their innovation GNP developed a few lines of chicken sausages: Parmesan Italian,  Hot Italian Chicken Sausages, Chicken Brats and Apple Maple Chicken Breakfast Links. **Note the absence of a Cajun sausage--guess their is still room for the initiation of my product to the marketplace! Products should soon be available in the fresh meat sections of grocery stores nationwide selling for $4.49 to $5.99 per package. A price similar to what I "projected" my product to be sold for.  

Behind the development of their product, GNP wanted to produce a healthier to pork and beef selections of brats and sausages, but wanted to maintain good flavor, variety, and convenience.  Their product is made from 100 percent, boneless, skinless thigh meat, again similar to the product I developed (you see where I am gathering the genius notion from).  Because of the lean meat ingredient, the chicken sausages contain 50 percent less fat than most pork varieties, according to the company. The products contain 4.5 to 8 grams of fat and 100 to 180 calories per serving, meeting the needs of GNP customers.  Further the new sausages are also gluten-free and nitrate-free, and three of the four are also dairy-free providing a "natural" type product that is limited of allergen causing agents.  Now I must admit that GNP provides an "edge" to their product in this realm of production.  But that doesn't mean there is room for my product in the marketplace!!!

The most comical thought from this whole situation is the fact I told Chasen I wanted to start raising a few chickens-mainly to gather eggs everyday.  But now, after this whole ordeal, I am thinking I need to raise broiler chickens (I'm talking hundreds), get a large meat grinder and stuffer and start marketing my own line of poultry processed products!!  Although I am a beef girl at heart, one can honestly see there is money to be made here!!  


But on second thought, I guess I could sell my "secret Cajun recipe" to the folks at GNP and get paid for less involvement....or I could just print off my recipe for the sausage and serve the Cajun goodness to family and friends while sharing my "fishing story" of Cajun chicken sausages persay.  And after thinking rationally for a moment, I think I may just do that!