Two-day delivery nationwide
Master sausage maker
From butcher apprentice to trade journeyman to certified industry expert, Josef is a master sausage maker with more than 40 years of experience making premium sausages, charcuterie, and delicatessen products in the European tradition. Follow Josef’s journey from a boy with a dream to a true master craftsman.
Early
years
Josef Brunner was born in a small village in Austria. As a young boy, he dreamed of traveling and seeing the world. He loved learning about other countries and cultures and was fascinated with the United States and the idea of the American Dream.
1970
Josef began an apprenticeship in an Austrian butcher shop. He didn’t know it then, but this apprenticeship would launch him into a lifelong career as a craftsman. It took years of study, practice, and perseverance to perfect his craft.
1980
Josef became a certified butcher, a distinction that allowed him to work throughout Europe. His drive and ambition had not slowed down; there was still more to learn, more to do, and more to see. He set the goal of becoming a Master Sausage Maker, one of the highest specialties of butchery.
1984
Josef passed his Master’s test to become a Master Sausage Maker. Having reached a new level in his career, he left Austria for Germany, where he worked as a butcher for several years while continuing his personal and professional growth.
1986
Josef decided it was time to pursue his American Dream. Without English or money in his pockets, he headed to the United States and began working in a traditional, high-quality butcher shop in Beverly Hills, California.
1992
Josef moved to Colorado to work for a Swiss sausage maker. Under his mentor, he deepened his knowledge of traditional Swiss recipes and techniques while expanding his production expertise.
2004
With 31 years of experience, Josef felt ready to take the next step and become an entrepreneur. After an extensive search for a sausage and butcher shop, he and his wife Elizabeth discovered Hartmann’s Old World Sausage in Rochester, New York.
The Brunners fell in love with both the company and the Finger Lakes region. A deal was struck, and the family moved to Rochester.
2015
A lot, actually. Josef rebranded the company as Artisan Meats by Josef Brunner.
2018
After many years in the United States, Josef became a sworn-in citizen. The wishful thinking of a young boy became real through hard work and perseverance.
Today
Today, Josef is a proud American citizen who works hard and plays even harder. When he is not making masterpieces in the kitchen, he spends time with his family and dogs in the scenic foothills of New York’s Finger Lakes region. He loves adventure and can often be found riding his horses.
Josef remains a lifelong learner in both his career and personal life. His next adventure is learning to fly an airplane.
