If you’re a fan of cheesesteaks, chances are you’ve had a taste of the iconic Original Philly® beef or chicken without even realizing it. Since its establishment in 1981 as The Original Philadelphia Cheesesteak Company, Original Philly brand has been at the forefront of creating sliced steak products that have found their way into countless sandwiches around the world.

But what took the cheesesteak from being a mere culinary treat to a cultural phenomenon? The story begins in Philadelphia during the 1970s and ’80s, a time when the city was alive with the spirit of America’s Bicentennial, sports supremacy, and the rise of the legendary Rocky movies. Restaurants, pizza shops, delis, and bars across the city started adding “steaks” to their menus, but sourcing, preparing, and seasoning the meat for these sandwiches proved to be a challenge.

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Recognizing the growing demand and business opportunity, two childhood friends, Nicholas Karamatsoukas and George Kontodemos, decided to take matters into their own hands. From a small garage in Roxborough, Philadelphia, they started producing and supplying sliced beef specifically crafted for cheesesteaks.

With unwavering confidence, Nicholas, also known as “Mr. Nick,” predicted that the Philadelphia Steak Sandwich would one day be as popular as the hamburger, and Original Philly brand would play a significant role in its rise to fame.

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Little did Nicholas know that his vision would extend to the creation of National Cheesesteak Day. Celebrated on March 24th every year, this “holiday” has become a fan-favorite, inspiring news stories, promotions, giveaways, eating competitions, and an avalanche of social media posts and selfies.

Original Philly brand has played a vital role in driving the popularity of National Cheesesteak Day. Collaborating with the foodservice community, the brand has not only satisfied consumers’ cravings for authentic beef and chicken cheesesteaks but has also created engaging initiatives. These include a Cheesesteak Personality quiz, “The Legend of the Philly Cheesesteak” micro-documentary historical video, a Google Maps-powered Cheesesteak Finder, and a downloadable Graphics Kit to help spread the word.

The brand’s success can be traced back to its founders’ engineering background and hands-on foodservice experience in Greece and the United States. Nicholas, also known as Mr. Nick, built his own slicers and pioneered blast freezing techniques and equipment. This ingenuity led to the development of a unique manufacturing process, resulting in the renowned “chunked and formed” sliced beef (and later chicken) that became the cornerstone of the brand’s flavor and quality.

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The mission of the founders was clear: to make it easy for foodservice operators worldwide to serve authentic Philly-style cheesesteaks with the best flavor, quality, and consistency. Thanks to the revolutionary Original Philly chunked and formed sliced steak, their mission became a reality, propelling the cheesesteak boom that Nicholas had envisioned. This surge has continued for decades, expanding beyond the Delaware Valley and making its mark in non-traditional markets across the United States and in dozens of countries.

Today, the cheesesteak is synonymous with the City of Philadelphia, alongside iconic figures like Ben Franklin and the Liberty Bell. However, its popularity has spread far and wide, and Original Philly brand is now a part of Tyson Foods’ foodservice division. This partnership has contributed to Tyson Foods’ ranking as the second-largest meat processor globally on the 2022 Forbes 500 list.

As we celebrate National Cheesesteak Day 2023, let’s acknowledge the humble sandwich that has earned its place as one of the country’s most beloved foods. From Philly to the coast, let’s indulge in this culinary delight and savor the rich history and flavors that make the cheesesteak a true icon.

It’s go-time! Get ready for the busy spring/summer season.

Source: https://t-tees.com
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