Since 1973, Werner’s fine sausages have earned the reputation of being the best sausage in town. With no fillers, MSG or preservatives, Werner’s sausages feature hand-trimmed meat perfectly blended with seasonings in a natural casing prepared in-house by sausage masters with over 30 years of experience.
Rachel Cochran is the general manager of Werner's Specialty Foods in the heart of downtown Mission, Ks.
“Werner's was originally established in 1898,” Cochran says. "It was called Swanson's and was located on Westport Road (where Cupini's is now). It was originally a Swedish market, stocking traditional Swedish items like lutefisk and Swedish potato sausage. Werner Wohlert, who came to America in 1959 from Germany, worked for the Sawnsons and eventually bought the business in the early 1970s. Wohlert moved the business to Mission and re-branded—he transitioned the store into a German market that featured German imports and handmade sausages and renamed it Werner's. Wohlert and his wife, Ursula, ran the store themselves for 25 years until 1995 when David Miller purchased the business. Miller saw a golden opportunity and expanded the sausage selection from Wohlert's original four varieties of sausage to the current 20 varieties. Miller continues to stock German imported goods but has also expanded by carrying local products such as locally made sauerkraut and mustard. This year, Miller and his wife, Judy, will celebrate their 25th anniversary!”
This old-fashioned family delicatessen with welcoming staff is the perfect place to get a made-to-order sandwich for lunch to-go or an easy dinner—find buns, condiments and sausages to grill at home.
“You can get the classics like ham and cheese or oven roasted turkey, but we also make a signature Schnitzel sandwich—it's our #1 seller. It’s a pork tenderloin that has been tenderized, breaded, fried and served on seedless rye bread with mayo, tomato, onion and Swiss cheese. These usually sell out every day! Other bestselling sandwiches include the corned beef, smoked turkey, liverwurst and our version of a Reuben, which is house-made corned beef served on rye with mayo, kraut, spicy mustard (not Thousand Island or Russian dressing) and Swiss cheese. We also stock a variety of chips, drinks and even a few sweet things for dessert to round out your lunch for less than $10. Our line is always quicker and shorter than other fast food eateries in Mission.”
Werner’s makes its own corned beef, smoked turkey, roast beef, ground round, ground pork, liverwurst and also smokes its own bacon and pork chops.
“All food we produce has no preservatives, which really allows you to taste the food. Everything is made in small batches and is made as needed.”
The Werner’s On Wheels food truck found at festivals and private events in the greater Kansas City area is currently not in operation due to the pandemic.
“As soon as we are able, we will be back out there, but at this point we are doing catering pick up where we prepare the food for pick up that’s ready to serve. It's an easy and delicious alternative to just another grocery store party platter.
“Things in the world are so unreliable right now, but one thing is for certain: our dedication to providing the best possible product to our wonderful customers continues on! The ‘buy local’ movement is a wonderful thing because it has driven a whole new demographic through our doors. People can taste the difference in our food and have a hard time going back to the big brands. We love our customers—they are fiercely loyal and supportive of our little shop. We will continue to provide the highest quality product possible because that is what sets us apart from the rest.”
For more information, visit wernerswurst.com.