OUR HISTORY

Since 1978, Longview Jerky Shop has grown from a little retail store in Longview, Alberta, into a destination known for world famous jerky, handcrafted meats, and a family tradition that continues today.

Our Story Begins in 1978

Longview Jerky Shop began in 1978 when Lenard Kirk founded Longview Meats and Merchandise in the small community of Longview, Alberta. What started as a little retail store grew over the decades as more people discovered the jerky and handcrafted meat products being made here.

From the beginning, the shop offered more than jerky. Customers could stop in for fresh-cut steaks, pepperoni, and sausages, while successful hunters could bring in their game for custom butchering.

As the years passed, more jerky flavours and products were introduced while the shop continued building a loyal following. Longview Beef Jerky was even federally approved for a period of the company’s history and wholesaled throughout Western Canada. Today, Longview Jerky Shop operates as a provincially inspected and approved facility, with products sold and shipped within Alberta.

Built on Decades of Tradition

Thomas Kirk took over management from his father in the early 2000s before purchasing the company in 2006. He attended Olds College to expand his knowledge of sausage, pepperoni, and meat production, and brought that experience back home to Longview.

Under Thomas’s leadership, the shop continued to grow. The original four jerky flavours expanded to 10 and eventually to 15 flavours of Longview Style along, with more than 40 flavours and styles available across the full jerky section. The shop’s handcrafted meat offering also continued to develop, including award-winning smokies, sausages, and pepperoni.

Longview Beef Jerky has travelled far beyond the little Alberta community where it began. It reached the heights of Mount Everest during the 1993 Emergo Expedition, and customers from around the world continue to visit the shop and take a taste of Alberta home with them. It’s one of the reasons we proudly call our jerky World Famous.

Community remains an important part of our story. Longview Jerky Shop has been a mainstay at the Millarville Market for more than 25 years and continues to participate in the Millarville, Spruce Meadows, and other Christmas markets while supporting events and organizations throughout the surrounding area.

A Tradition We’re Proud to Carry Forward

More than four decades after our doors first opened, we’re still family-owned and operated, still making products in-house, and still looking forward to the next flavour, product, or idea.
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Family-Owned Since 1978

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Handcrafted in Longview

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Whole-Muscle Jerky

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Award-Winning Products