Al Paynter, the founder of the company, found his passion as a young boy and decided to share his passion with Melfort Co-op Food store when it opened in 2003. (Prairie North Co-op/Facebook)

By Rachel May

Al's Sausage

Melfort Co-op celebrates one year since Al’s Sausage returns

Mar 15, 2022 | 1:00 PM

Prairie North Co-op is celebrating a northeast delicacy, Al’s Sausages.

The fan favourite dates back four decades in Kinistino, Sask. Founder Al Paynter found his passion early on and decided to share his passion with Melfort Co-op Food store in 2003.

Terry Tremblay, general manager of Prairie North told northeastNOW when customers demand local products he is glad to stock the shelves with them.

“There are so few opportunities to really differentiate yourself in the food business.”

Despite the high demands for the product, food industry laws put a stop to the production of the infamous recipe.

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Tremblay was instrumental in bringing the product back onto shelves.

“I started asking the question, why can’t we make it but I don’t think anyone realizes how popular or what the demand was. So we made a decision that we would do what it takes to carry them again.”

As a past meat cutter, Tremblay investigated the protocols for offering Al’s recipe and worked with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency to ensure the Canadian nutrition labelling standards were up to code.

In February 2021, Tremblay helped Prairie North welcome back Al’s Sausage to the shelves in Melfort and Kelvington.

“The first few weeks, we couldn’t keep it on the shelf, like they were making hundreds of pounds a day and we were running out every day.”

Since being back in stores, 23,564.51 lb has been sold between the two stores.

Paynter retired in September 2021 but he shared his secret recipe with the staff at Prairie North to allow the customers to continue to enjoy the northeast treat.

“We’re grateful Al had a long career in this area serving customers. He’s allowed us to use his picture on the labels and his name in perpetuity.”

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Rachel.May@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @RachelMayFM