Conger Meat Market Opens New Rochester Store

The local meat processor has expanded its footprint into Rochester with a new retail space on Salem Road SW.

Updated on Oct. 28, 2026 in Openings & Closings

Conger Meat Market Opens New Rochester Store

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Conger Meat Market has officially opened a 1,600-square-foot retail store at 1340 Salem Road SW in Rochester. The new location, which occupies a former Dunn Bros. Coffee building, marks a significant expansion for the family-owned meat processor.

Why it matters

This move allows the company to reach a larger customer base beyond its small-town home of Conger. Management is pursuing this expansion to demonstrate the long-term viability and succession potential of small-scale regional meat processing operations.

The company employs more than 50 people across its locations and processes approximately 20 beef and 15 to 20 hogs weekly. The Rochester operation is supported by a steady supply chain from approximately 100 farms in southern Minnesota and northern Iowa.

The players

Conger Meat Market

A meat processing business with a 90-year history that maintains operations across Minnesota and Iowa.

Troy and Amanda Kopischke

The current owners of Conger Meat Market who purchased the shares previously held by Darcy Johnson.

Darcy Johnson

The former co-owner of the meat market who retired at the beginning of 2026.

The details

The Rochester store is staffed by two full-time managers and six additional employees. The company maintains its processing capabilities through vacuum-packaging equipment and continues to operate existing retail locations in Conger, Albert Lea, and Forest City, Iowa.

2004: Jeremy and Darcy Johnson bought the market.
January 1, 2026: Darcy Johnson retired from the business.
Spring 2027: Planned opening of a new store in Mankato.

Market Landscape

This expansion serves as a case study for the ongoing trend of succession planning in small meat processing plants. By scaling retail operations, the company positions itself to maintain independent regional processing capabilities amid industry consolidation.

Local shoppers in Rochester gain access to a new source for locally processed meat and specialty products. The expansion adds eight total positions to the local job market, including two full-time management roles.

The takeaway

Small-scale processors are increasingly leveraging retail expansion to secure their future in the food supply chain. Customers in regions like Rochester may see more niche, farm-direct products becoming available as these businesses scale.

What happens next

The company plans to launch a Mankato store in the spring of 2027. Additionally, sales of meat sticks and bars are expected to debut on Amazon and TikTok in February or March 2027.