Vienna Beef and Coach Mike Ditka Launch Ditka Sausages

Vienna Beef is teaming up Chicago Bears legend Mike Ditka to introduce a new line of dinner sausages available throughout Chicagoland and in select restaurants around the country. The eight-inch, one-third pound sausages will be offered in two flavors: Hot Beef Polish Sausage and Chicken Sausage with Mozzarella and Sun-Dried Tomatoes. The sausages are the first super-premium, co-branded item in the dinner sausage category, say company officials, an area which saw an increase of 4.2% in 2012, according to Nielsen surveys, based on national unit volume over the last year. The sausages were made with hometown tradition in mind: "These sausages embody Chicago. The tradition, the teams, the fans, the big appetites – Chicago deserves a monster sausage they can be proud of," says Coach Ditka. Made by Chicago-based Vienna Beef, the Ditka Hot Beef Polish Sausage is infused with a blend of pure beef, cayenne peppers and zesty seasonings, before being hardwood hickory smoked. The Chicken Sausage is filled with premium chicken, fresh mozzarella cheese, sun-dried tomatoes and spiced with basil and garlic. Packaged for retail, both flavors of sausages come in a 10.66-ounce two-pack, with a suggested retail price from $4.99 to $5.99. The products are also available as a food service item, in a five-pound case containing 15 sausages, and will be served at various prominent restaurants and sports venues. "Ditka. Sausages. Talk about a match made in heaven," says Timothy O'Brien, co-president of Vienna Beef. "Vienna Beef is thrilled to team up with the Ditka Brand to bring together two Chicago icons for one unique, larger-than-life product- just like Coach. The natural pairing of the two brands has created the ultimate, super-premium quality sausage to fill the stomachs of sausage enthusiasts and Chicago-sports fans alike."