Sierra Meat & Seafood launches direct-to-consumer model.
If you’ve made a habit of dining out in Reno in the past 30 years, you’ve likely sampled the bounty from Sierra Meat & Seafood. Since 1986, the meat and seafood processor and distributor has provided local restaurants in Reno and beyond with everything from certified Angus beef to venison, ahi steaks, and shrimp.
“We are not just a company of hooves,” says Bernadette Flocchini, senior vice president of Armand Agra, the parent company of Sierra Meat & Seafood.
Its leaders decided, in spring 2020, to start offering its foods to consumers directly without abandoning their traditional restaurant model.
“We wanted to share our restaurant-quality products with our neighbors and fellow protein lovers,” Flocchini says. “We also saw the need with the issues last spring around protein availability in the retail market, too.”
Sierra Meat’s direct-to-consumer service has been available for the past year to local residents via both delivery and curbside pickup. In addition to getting quality foods right to home chefs, these new options have met the social-distancing needs of many. Not only did the supplier play a part in keeping refrigerators stocked while meat supply was low due to complications related to the COVID-19 pandemic, but it also helped people avoid the grocery store if desired.
“Direct-to-customer is a fast-growing segment of our business,” Flocchini says, “but it is still small compared to our food-service side.”
The ordering process is simple. Visit Sierrameat.com and click on the Home Delivery or Curbside Pickup link on the home page. Then browse and shop the selection of high-quality restaurant meats and seafood. The website offers lists of available proteins such as poultry, ground beef, fresh fish, and hot dogs, with plenty of options for portion sizes. If you’re planning a dinner party, you might like the packages that cater more readily to that need. There are, however, no required order minimums.
In-stock orders received by 3 p.m. are packaged and ready for pickup the next day at around 10 a.m. When your order is ready, you’ll receive an email. Upon arriving at the warehouse, simply call and let staff members know you are there to get your order. Then ring the doorbell at the back of the building, which will alert someone to bring your order out and place your items in your car.
“If you do not see what you are looking for online, we encourage consumers to call and speak to one of our sales service team members,” Flocchini says.
Nora Heston Tarte is a longtime Reno resident. You can follow her local exploits and travel adventures on Instagram @Wanderlust_n_wine.
Sierra Meat & Seafood
1330 Capital Blvd., Ste. A, Reno
775-322-4073 • Sierrameat.com
