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The sausage category has not changed much in a long time. Mystery cuts, unpronounceable ingredients, and branding that makes pork feel like an afterthought.
Cassie and Chelsey Maschhoff grew up on a sixth-generation pork farm. They knew exactly how good pork could be. And they noticed nobody was bringing that version to market.
Lottie's Meats is their answer — a chef-crafted sausage brand built on whole muscle cuts, real ingredients, and a simple conviction that pork deserves better. In two years they went from Denver farmers markets to hundreds of Target stores on the West Coast. We sat down with co-founder Cassie to talk about 550 in-person demos, what cash flow really looks like at scale, and why the best thing a founder can do is lose their ego early.
The Product and Audience: What is Lottie's Meats and who is it for?
Lottie's Meats is a chef-crafted sausage brand built on one simple idea — make pork the right way. We use whole muscle cuts only, pork loin and pork shoulder, paired with real ingredients you can actually recognize. Think maple syrup, garlic, sage, thyme. No nitrites, no fillers, no shortcuts. Our core products include our signature smoked sausage — The Lottie, bratwurst, and ground pork blends, all designed to be versatile, high-quality, and easy to cook at home. Our target customer is the modern eater — often women balancing a lot, who care about ingredients, want better quality, and expect more from a category that has not evolved in decades.
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The Spark: When did you launch, and what made you say "I need to build this"?
My sister Chelsey and I grew up on a sixth-generation pork farm. She went into culinary. I went into tech. But the further we got from the farm, the more we noticed something strange — great pork products were missing. The category had become a sea of sameness. Mystery cuts, unpronounceable ingredients, outdated branding that made pork feel boring and unhealthy. We knew firsthand that pork, when done right, is nutrient-dense, flavorful, and completely underrepresented. And we realized no one was bringing that version to market. So we decided to.
The Launch: When did you launch and how did you build early momentum?
We launched in March 2024 in Denver. From day one, we were intentional about where we showed up — independent retailers, farmers markets, pop-ups at breweries and bakeries. Places where people actually care about food. We also leaned heavily into our story. Two sisters from a family farm, chef-crafted, building something 100% real in a category full of shortcuts. And instead of polished content, we shared the real process — from dozens of logistical challenges to having to bring a newborn to our first production run. That authenticity resonated.
The First 100: How did you find your first customers?
We showed up. A lot. Over 550 in-person demos in two years. In a category like this, taste matters. Once people try it, they get it! We also partnered with local chefs, independent grocery stores, and female-founded brands that already had trust and engagement with our target customer. It was not flashy growth. It was relationship-driven. And it worked.
The Advice: What would you tell a first-time founder in their first 90 days?
Get in the room. There is no substitute for real conversations and real feedback. It is easy to get stuck perfecting branding or your website, but your early focus should be getting your product in front of people and actively listening. And, lose your ego! This part is messy. It is not glamorous, but it is where the real progress happens.
The Reality Check: What is the hardest part of this journey that people don't see on social media?
Cash flow. Actually scaling a food brand is financially intense, and the timing rarely works in your favor. You can have major retail orders locked in and still be waiting 30, 60, even 90 days to get paid, while your production and logistics costs are due immediately. We have had to learn working capital management fast. It is not glamorous, but it is what determines whether you survive.
The Milestone: What has been your biggest "we made it" moment so far?
A few moments. Launching in Target, regionally, was a big one — seeing our product, rooted in our midwest family farm, on shelves of hundreds of stores up and down the West Coast made everything feel worth it. Winning a $40,000 pitch competition was another. Not just for the money, but for the validation. And going live on Misfits Market gave us national reach for the first time. That felt like a real turning point.
The AI Trend: How have you used AI to help your business grow?
AI is one of our most important tools. We use it across creative, operations, and finance — everything from content and outreach to logistics planning and financial modeling. As a small team, it allows us to move faster and make better decisions without needing a large operation behind us.
The Horizon: What should we be excited to see from Lottie's Meats in the next six months?
Right now the focus is going deeper with our recent expansions into Target and Misfits Market. We are also opening a few new retail doors soon. And possibly a new flavor...
The Recommendations: What are your favorite under-the-radar brands right now?
CPG: Pistakio
Tech: Canva
Gear: Hedley & Bennett
The Shop: Where can readers find Lottie's Meats?
You can find Lottie's Meats in Target stores across the West Coast, independent retailers like Bristol Farms, Lazy Acres, and Nugget Markets, and online nationally via Misfits Market. Full store list available at lottiesmeats.com.
The Connection: Where is the best place to follow along?
Follow along on Instagram at @lottiesmeats.
Callahan's Take
THIS is a brand with a story!
The sausage category has always had an obvious problem. You don't know what's in the sausage at the grocery store. And honestly, you probably don't want to.
Cassie and Chelsey grew up on a sixth-generation pork farm. They knew exactly how good pork could be and the potential for bringing that to market.
I love a family business. Like Cassie, I left the family business to go work in tech and eventually found my way back. That experience is where my drive for rooting for the little guy over the big guy came from. It's also what Previewer is all about. Lottie's Meats fits the bill perfectly.
Did your jaw drop when you read 550 in-person demos? Mine did!
I wish everyone that was considering launching a CPG brand would read this interview. That's the level of commitment and belief in your brand and your story that you have to have. It's showing up every single day because you know the product speaks for itself the moment someone tries it. That's the level of commitment it actually takes to build something real in this industry.
If you are lucky enough to live close to a Target on the West Coast then please go try Lottie's and support Cassie and Chelsey!
Available at Target, select independent retailers, and nationally via Misfits Market.
Shop Lottie's Meats
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