Company

Krakus Foods International is the sole importer of Krakus Polish Hams. With a strong presence in the deli category, the company also manufactures selected products in the United States under the Krakus brand name.

The Beginnings of Tradition:
Centuries of tradition, rooted in Polish heritage, allowed Krakus Hams to become the World’s Most Honored Ham and America’s #1 Imported Deli Ham.

In the late 1920s, Poland suffered under a communist regime with importing and exporting explicitly dictated by the government. At that time, hams were Poland’s largest source of dollar revenue, and to meet increased demand, a growing number of meat plants began operations. New technologies for manufacturing were soon introduced and the country enjoyed a triple digit growth increase in volume within five years, as exporting began to America.

After WWII, Poland was economically devastated by the war and eagerly sought opportunities for ham export. With a superior taste and manufacturing process, ham offered the best and quickest opportunity. At that time, a government sanctioned company, established under the name of Animex, had exclusive import and export rights in Poland. Animex, knowing the pristine value in which Polish ham was regarded, trademarked the Krakus brand name. Krakus ham could only be purchased for hard currency and was essentially considered a luxury item, almost unavailable on the Polish domestic market.

The Legend of Krakus:
With its difficult obtainment, Krakus quickly became known as a high quality, premium ham. In Poland, the name Krakus is widely traced back to an old Polish fable. Once upon a time there was a brave & wise knight named Krakus. An evil dragon was terrorizing the Polish countryside, feasting on the livestock and starving the people. Krakus, the fearless knight, slew the dragon and saved the country from ultimate starvation. Krakus became a legend and his name was placed on Poland’s finest hams as a tribute to the value the people of Poland place on their treasured livestock.

A Distinctively Polish Quality:
Polish agriculture had a strong tradition in its development, and its products had an authentic taste advantage over the highly competitive imported ham category. From the pigs to the processing, Polish ham stands alone with a specific and original taste. Farmers who supplied the meat, historically were known to come from small farms where breeding of animals was different than commercial farms. Individually selected hogs were hand fed potatoes and meat. From these hogs, only the choice cuts of meat were individually selected and processed to ensure consistent taste, texture and quality. With Krakus ham, it’s 100% meat, cooked in its natural juices and no water added.

Reputation is Everything:
“The World’s Most Honored Ham,” earned its reputation over decades of participation in international exhibitions and contests. In all, over forty different international medals and awards, as well as numerous domestic awards, have confirmed and assured the high quality and superior taste of Krakus over the competition. Some of those awards include the International Award of Good Service and Quality, the International World Selection and the Good Housekeeping Seal. The Krakus Brand, through effective advertising and a premium product, became the most highly regarded and recognized brand in the business.

Tradition in a New Marketplace:
Krakus Foods International has withstood the test of time and the challenges of world-class competition by being universal in its offerings, and never compromising the quality that made it famous. The superior taste of Krakus took generations to perfect, as tradition has always been a priority in its development. Today, Krakus Foods International takes great pride in preserving the authentic, imported from Poland product, that makes it America’s #1 Imported Ham.

With flavor as rich as its tradition, you can trust the Krakus promise to deliver superior taste without ever compromising quality. Ask for Krakus by name and taste for yourself why it's America's #1 Imported Deli Ham.