Western New York loyalties are keeping that yellow Weber's mustard on top of those Sahlen or Wardynski hot dogs on this holiday weekend.For nearly a century, Weber's has been an integral part of the local food scene, whether on Easter hams or summer hot dogs.
President Steven Desmond says there aren't many local food companies left, but Weber's is doing fairly well. He says people with roots here go into stores and buy the brand, which is now on a wider array of foods coming out of the company plant.
Desmond says the weather hasn't been good for business this year, but sales are picking up as the damp summer continues
"Fourth of July is considered hot dog grilling season, but this year has been weird. We had a terrible, terrible March because of weather. In June and July we've been coming back and are still down in sales for the year," Desmond says. "We're coming back now, finally, and it's taken four months longer than it generally takes,"
Desmond says the company has benefited from Albany's Pride of New York campaign and the food shows state government holds around the state. And he says local eaters support local foods.
"The whole viability of Weber's is Buffalo supporting their locally homegrown companies. Being in business 91 years, we're one of the last two remaining independently-owned food companies in Western New York," Desmond says.
He says the company also benefits from a long association with Easter, with customers saying that Easter ham just isn't complete without Weber's mustard.
