Eric Gutknecht @ Charcutnuvo

How Does Regenerative Sausage Get Made?

On this episode, Kyle and Anthony chat with Eric Gutknecht who is the President and CEO at Charcutnuvo. Charcutnuvo supports regenerative agriculture with their Regenerative Organic Certified® beef sausages, and they are working to transition their entire product portfolio of beef, chicken, and pork sausage products to ROC™. Charcutnuvo products can be found online or at Costco, Natural Grocers, Whole Foods, and other natural-focused retailers and co-ops in the western United States. 

Five Generations Of Sausage Making

Charcutnovo is a vertically integrated, privately owned, and family-operated brand with deep roots in tradition. Eric, a fourth-generation sausage maker, was born in Switzerland and grew up immersed in the family business after his father acquired it in the 1980s. Starting his journey at just eight years old by packing sausages, Eric's passion for the craft only grew. As an adult, he returned to Switzerland for a traditional apprenticeship in European sausage making. In 2003, Eric took over the company from his parents, and in 2017, he rebranded the retail arm as Charcutnovo to support its expansion. The food service division continues to operate under the original name, Continental Sausage.

Charcutnuvo stays true to its heritage by employing traditional Swiss-style sausage-making techniques. Unlike standard production methods that use a meat grinder, Swiss-style production relies on a buffalo chopper, which emulsifies the meat to create a fine, smooth base. This process ensures a more even distribution of spices and flavors, resulting in sausages with a satisfying snap and bite. After forming the smooth base, Charcutnuvo incorporates layers of distinct textures and flavors, such as cheese and jalapeños, showcased in their smoked jalapeño cheddar bratwurst made with pork and bison. Each sausage is then smoked and fully cooked to perfection.

Starting Out Natural and Organic

When Eric took over the business, he adapted the product line to better fit his personal health priorities. As a father, triathlete, and someone managing Rheumatoid arthritis, maintaining a healthy, clean, and anti-inflammatory diet was essential. He began by ensuring that all products were free of hormones and antibiotics, and that no animal byproducts were used in animal feed. Charcutnuvo sausages are made without added sugars and contain half the salt of standard sausages to support an anti-inflammatory lifestyle. While organic meat had always been important to Eric, it was the increasing prevalence of greenwashing in the natural food industry that motivated him to pursue organic certification for Charcutnuvo.

"We decided as soon as we purchased [the business], we're gonna make everything clean as possible, which back then meant no antibiotics, no hormones, and no animal byproducts in the feed" – Eric

Achieving certified organic status took nearly three years, but it paved the way for Charcutnuvo’s products to reach retail shelves. Securing placement in Natural Grocers was a significant milestone, opening doors to additional retailers and broader distribution. Eric, along with Anthony and Kyle, acknowledges Natural Grocers as an unsung hero in the industry, supporting emerging brands with their high standards. Eric notes that these strict guidelines foster strong consumer trust in natural and organic products. Today, approximately one-third of Charcutnuvo’s sales come from Costco, another third from other retailers, and a third from food service.

Beefing Up Sales With Regen

Charcutnuvo's journey toward becoming Regenerative Organic Certified® (ROC™) began when their original beef supplier ceased operations. During his search for a new supplier, Eric was committed to finding one that was either already ROC™ certified or had the potential to become certified. Beyond the benefits to animals and ecosystems, Eric valued the ROC™ certification's focus on farmer welfare, including fair wages for farm workers. While finding a U.S.-based ranch that could consistently supply regenerative beef proved challenging, he discovered an exceptional partner in Hewitt Foods from Australia.

Hewitt Foods elevates regenerative ranching practices by not only using rotational grazing but also strategically planting additional crops across their pastures to enhance cow nutrition and amplify ecosystem benefits. For instance, they plant turnips, which act as water conduits, directing more moisture into the soil and improving overall land health.

The ROC™ product line at Charcutnuvo has seen notable success, with a 25% increase in sales velocity for their beef sausages carrying the ROC™ label. While Eric believes the regenerative beef enhances the flavor of the product, he attributes much of the early success to retailer support for regenerative brands and increasing consumer awareness of regenerative agriculture. A key example is when Natural Grocers promoted regenerative farming through an in-store partnership with the Rodale Institute, just as Charcutnuvo's ROC™ line was launched.

“We added the ROC™ certification to our labels in August and that has really just crushed it. We got some attention at Whole Foods and Natural Grocers and other places where we launched, and that has really boosted the sales on those products.” – Eric

Transitioning To 100% ROC™

Looking ahead, Eric and his team are dedicated to transitioning Charcutnuvo's entire product range to Regenerative Organic Certified® (ROC™). The challenge lies not only in sourcing regenerative meat producers for chicken, pork, and bison but also in finding other ROC™-certified ingredients. Certification mandates that 95% of a product’s ingredients must be regenerative. Since sausage casing cannot be certified, nearly all other ingredients in the sausage must meet regenerative standards. To address this, Charcutnuvo is partnering with regenerative-focused brands like ORIGIN to source ROC™ cheese and develop new products.

The next ROC™ offerings from Charcutnuvo will include beef pastrami, available through food service partners and at Whole Foods deli counters. Additionally, they are preparing to launch new ROC™ beef products and three beef and lamb sausages.

For now, Charcutnuvo remains focused on retail distribution through natural grocers and retailers committed to promoting regenerative products. Investing in conventional retail placement is not currently viable without adequate support for educating consumers on the benefits of ROC™ products. In the food service sector, Charcutnuvo is excited to showcase its products at the National Restaurant Association's show and aims to build partnerships with restaurants that prioritize regenerative ingredients and are willing to feature regenerative brands on their menus.

50% Market Share For Regen

Eric believes that consumer awareness of regenerative practices could be significantly boosted through endorsement by a major celebrity, a politician, or promotion at a high-profile event. Beyond that, he hopes to see a major retailer, such as Costco, fully commit to regenerative products, which would drive large-scale consumer awareness and engagement.

“It has to be a conventional retailer…one of the big ones going all in or Costco going all in on regenerative to force brands to become regenerative. There's been so much momentum already, but I think something like that would just press the accelerator and get us there quicker.” – Eric

This ReGen Recap was written by Katey Finnegan

You can check out the full episode with Eric Gutknecht HERE

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