Creston deli takes your health to heart

Famous Fritz owners Tom and Victoria Fritz (centre, flanked by employees) are pleased to offer a delicious and healthier choice —Photo courtesy Famous Fritz Meats & Deli

by Sandra Albers

h3. How long have you been in the deli meats business? We’ve been in the food business industry and self-employed for over 22 years. We emigrated from Germany to Canada seven years ago. We settled in Creston, B.C., four years ago, when we opened what was formerly known as S & S Meats at 1238 Northwest Boulevard. We renamed the shop Famous Fritz after my husband Tom’s dad, Fritz, a European master butcher. In July 2008 we were able to expand and moved to a larger facility at 1420 Northwest Boulevard, where we very successfully serve the Creston Valley and many happy, returning customers from all over Canada and the U.S. After only three years in business, Famous Fritz became the Kootenays’ "little secret" and a destination for many tourists as well. h3. Tell us about the products you sell. Our Omega 3-enriched and cholesterol-reduced deli meats were recently invented by Tom and are not available anywhere else on the market—only at Famous Fritz Meats & Deli in Creston. The idea was developed several years ago, by talking to our German medical doctor and friend about nutritional health benefits in deli meats. She loved Tom’s products, but could not really recommend them to her clients. Her argument was that deli meats are very unhealthy, so Tom decided to put years of experience and experiments into developing healthier products, tested by volunteers and many analysts. He finally achieved a ground-breaking formula, which is 100 per cent natural. No artificial ingredients get added to our already gluten-free products. On top of that, no fillers, no binders, no sugar or MSG gets added to our deli meats, and they contain approximately 30 per cent less salt than anything else available on the market. One-hundred per cent pure and natural is the company’s policy. Our customers are aware that there are hidden ingredients in industrial manufactured deli meats and appreciate the fact that our assorted deli meats are enriched by up to 1,000 milligrams per 100 grams of Omega 3 fatty acids, and are cholesterol-reduced by up to 50 per cent per 100 grams. One-hundred grams of coho salmon contains approximately 1,200 milligrams of Omega 3 fatty acids. One of our delicious European wieners has up to 1,000 milligrams of Omega 3 fatty acids, or six to 10 slices of our tasty deli meats would contain as well up to 1,000 milligrams. Omega 3 fatty acids are essential acids for the well-being of the human organism, which cannot be produced by the body itself; Omega 3 has to be taken in through the foods we eat. h3. What are some of the health benefits of Omega 3 fatty acids? According to various Internet sources, those benefits include: freedom from pain and inflammation, better brain function and higher intelligence, feeling better with much less depression, lower incidence of childhood disorders, superior cardiovascular health, protection from heart attack and stroke, and reduction of breast, colon and prostate cancer. Where do you produce your deli products? Everything is made on the premises by the owner, a European-trained meat cutter and sausage maker. Our all-natural beef and buffalo gets aged 21 days, which is hard to find these days. We make our hams like they were made 50 years ago and we do not use liquid smoke. Famous Fritz Meats & Deli is, with no doubt, definitely a healthier choice. Website: "www.famousfritz.ca(http://www.famousfritz.ca)":http://www.famousfritz.ca

Vital statistics

• Population :: 4,826
• Number of businesses :: 480 in 2008
• Supporting industries :: Agriculture, Farming, Manufacturing, Brewing, Forestry, Tourism

Vital contacts

• City of Creston :: www.creston.ca
• Mayor :: Ron Toyota
• Creston Chamber of Commerce :: www.crestonchamber.com
• Manager :: Becky VandenEykel
• Phone :: 1.866.528.4342
• Creston :: www.crestonevents.ca

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At Work :: Sandra Albers

One-on-one with some of the Kootenay’s business leaders.

Biz Edge :: Danielle Cameron

The faces behind Kootenay businesses.

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