AUSTIN, TX (October 1, 2008) —From authentic German sausage varieties and traditional sauerkraut to smooth lagers and full-bodied brews, Whole Foods Market (NASDAQ:WFMI) shares the tradition of Oktoberfest with a month-long celebration of great food and drink.

Oktoberfest is a 200-year-old celebration held every year for 16 days each year in Munich, Germany. At each festival, an astonishing 10 million pints of beer and more than 750,000 sausages are consumed.

The leading natural and organic foods supermarket extends this German celebration throughout October, offering shoppers a line of truly authentic all-natural German sausages. From bratwurst and weisswurst, to knackwurst and wieners, these sausages are made exclusively for Whole Foods Market and come in seven varieties.

“Natural casings, classic old-world flavor and traditional sausage-making techniques are what make these German-style sausages so delicious,” said Theo Weening, global meat coordinator for Whole Foods Market. “The Brat Hans sausages are the ‘best wurst’ in town, pairing perfectly with traditional German beers, which make for an Oktoberfest celebration at home.”

The Original Brat Hans sausages are created by lifetime sausage maker and butcher Hans Liebl. They are made in small batches to assure the highest quality and consistency. “My brats are of the best quality and are a great value. They are so simple to prepare since they are already fully cooked,” said Liebl. “Now, everyone can celebrate Oktoberfest like a German!” Liebl, a native German who came to the U.S. in 1987, worked as a meat cutter at Whole Foods Market before starting his own business crafting sausages. In 2007, Liebl created a line of authentic German sausages especially for Whole Foods Market. These sausages contain no added nitrates or nitrites, MSG, sugar, fillers or artificial colors or flavors and are made with all-natural, high-quality ingredients. In fact, they are made from pigs raised on vegetarian feed without antibiotics.

“I’ve watched Hans make tasty sausages for years and I respect his artisanal talent,” Weening added. “Nobody does it better than Hans for authentic wurst!”

 

Great Value

 

As part of Whole Foods Market’s Oktoberfest celebration, seven varieties of the Original Brat Hans sausages are featured throughout October at a price of two packages for $8. Varieties include fully cooked Original Bratwurst, Bratwurst with Chives, Weisswurst with Parsley, Curry Bratwurst, Sheboygan Bratwurst, German Weiner and Knockwurst with Garlic.

 

 

Quick and Easy Preparation

 

Leibl, also known as “The Sausage Guy,” shows shoppers how to prepare a quick and easy Oktober-feast for this year’s celebration with a new online video. He encourages shoppers to add his Knackwurst with Garlic to pea soup for a traditional German dish and to serve the thinner long German Weiner with a small bun for easy dipping in mustard to capture the authentic flavor of Oktoberfest. To serve the bratwursts traditionally, home cooks must not forget the German potato salad, sauerkraut and good German mustard – all of which are available at Whole Food Market.

Recipes that will add a bit of oomph to your Oktoberfest celebrations include: · Ale-Braised Bratwurst with German Potato Salad, https://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/recipes/recipe.php?recipeId=2027, · Baked Sausage and Sauerkraut with Apples, https://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/recipes/recipe.php?recipeId=1128, and · Red Cabbage and German Sausage, https://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/recipes/recipe.php?recipeId=2318.

 

For more great ideas and recipes, visit https://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/.

 

 

Brews and Brats: A Perfect Pairing

 

Since Oktoberfest began in 1810, German breweries have been offering special brews for the festivities. Medium weight and nicely hoppy, the beers featured at Whole Foods Market for October are a fitting transition from light summer ales to the richer brews of winter. And, not surprisingly, they’re perfect partners for brats and other full-flavored autumn fare.
The authentic German sausages pair well with “Marzen-style” beers, or those that were historically brewed in Germany during March to deliver full-bodied, rich and toasty flavors in time for Oktoberfest. “The Marzen-style brewed beer delivers the extra depth of sweet bready malt taste that distinguishes this harvest-season specialty,” said Cathy Strange, Whole Foods Market national beer buyer. “Beers from the Munich area are held to what is considered the highest of standards. Offering these beers to our shoppers allows us to share this true taste of tradition.”

 

Whole Foods Market Oktoberfest celebration brews include Paulaner Oktoberfest, Becks Oktoberfest, Erdinger Oktoberfest, Hacker-Pschorr Oktoberfest, Sam Adams Oktoberfest, Spaten Oktoberfest and Ayinger Oktoberfest. For a more detailed flavor profile of each brew and its sausage-pairing partners, visit https://wholefoodsmarket.com/oktoberfest/.

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For recipes and photos, please visit https://wmn-live.frb.io/pressroomr/wf/national/album.aspx?id=10426 or contact Cathy Cochran-Lewis, cathy.cochranlewis@wholefoods.com.

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