John "Jack" Link is the founder of Jack Link's Protein Snacks, a family-owned company best known for its beef jerky. Founded in 1986 in Minong, Wisconsin, the company is built on recipes passed down through generations of the Link family.
The Link family has been in the meat business for over a century, with a legacy starting in the 1880s when Jack's great-grandfather, Chris Link, emigrated from Germany with family sausage recipes.
From local sales to national distribution: In 1985, Jack and his sons began making jerky with the family's old recipes, selling the first "Kippered Beef Steak" products out of the back of his car to convenience stores in Wisconsin. Rapid growth followed, with nationwide distribution beginning after he invested in a packaging machine.
Family-owned and operated: Jack Link's remains a family-owned company, with Jack's son, Troy Link, serving as the current president and CEO.
