Father’s Day with Schweid & Sons

At Schweid & Sons, Father’s Day holds a special meaning. Our roots trace back to the late 1800s, when the Schweid family first entered the meat business on the Lower East Side of New York. It all started when Harry Schweid began supplying restaurants and butcher shops with high-quality meat. Since then, generations of fathers have played a vital role in building the company. From there, his son Sam expanded the family business to focus only on premium meat cuts. Sam’s son, David Schweid, would eventually take over the business in 1978 and focus on Ground Beef and Burgers. Today, David’s sons, Brad and Jamie, rebranded to Schweid & Sons, and the rest is history! 

Each generation has passed down not only their knowledge of premium beef but also the values that continue to guide us today: hard work, integrity, and a deep love for family. From the butcher block to the backyard grill, dads have always been at the heart of what we do. This Father’s Day, we’re celebrating the legacy of the Schweid men and the many ways they’ve shaped their family and business.

We enlisted the help of Zach, the next generation Schweid, to ask his family about their most cherished memories of Father’s Day, grilling, and growing together. Here’s what they had to say!

Father’s Day Q&A

What’s one lesson or tradition your father passed down that continues to guide your work or family life today?

• Jamie: “You can’t dance at every wedding. You can’t be everything to everyone. Focus and prioritize what makes your company great and lead with that.”
• David: “Be honest and don’t keep secrets, it always comes back to haunt you.”
• Brad: “Be present and in the moment. His work ethic all of those years drives me at work to be the best at what I do.”

The Schweid family has been in the meat business for generations. How has your approach evolved while still honoring your roots?

• Jamie: “I would say the approach has not evolved because the strategy that was created years ago is timeless. The quality of product and service to your customers is important, if you have a fanatical focus on those two priorities, you will be successful.”
• David: “I think the most important thing is to be honest with the customer by focusing on quality over price.  There is no place for “fooling” the customer with bad quality products.  Schweid and Sons is quality-orientated, by taking no short cuts to save money, it has been passed for generations now.”
• Brad: “We followed the mantra of our forefathers which is, quality and consistency”

Do you have a favorite Father’s Day memory that involves grilling or spending time around food with your family?

• Jamie: “There is a tradition in the family that my dad would talk to one of his friends to get steaks and we would grill them while watching the U.S. Open Golf Championship every Father’s Day.”
• David: Same favorite memory
• Brad: Same favorite memory

What’s one piece of advice you’d offer to fathers today about creating meaningful traditions with their kids — especially around the grill?

• Jamie: “Be authentic to yourself and do whatever you want to prepare for the meal. Cook it because it’s your day but have your family around to enjoy the moment.”
• David: “Everyone should have a task or a job around the grill, so everyone participates and feels good about the day. (Ex: Flipping Burgers, bringing out buns, etc).”
• Brad: “Having your kids next to you grilling, teaching you how to use passion and creativity to show up in cooking and grilling.”

What’s your go-to Burger style for the perfect Father’s Day cookout? Any secret tips you can share?

• Jamie: “My Burger is a USDA prime chuck, medium rare Burger, on a potato bun with a little splash of ketchup. The secret is already out, you should only be buying Schweid and Sons Burgers.”
• David: “My favorite Burger is a USDA prime chuck, with American cheese, any bun, and a little ketchup.  Secret tip: Do not press the Burger at any time.”
• Brad: “My favorite Burger is The Ribeye Blend with mustard, ketchup, pickles, lettuce, on a potato roll. My secret is to grill it with love.”

How do you see the role of grilling as more than just cooking, maybe as a way to bring people together or pass on family values?

• Jamie: “Look at your memories, rarely there are negative memories about Hamburgers and grilling. It’s an event that brings family and friends together and that’s what we want to support, bringing people together for good times.”
• David: “I think grilling is fabulous for bringing people together as a family and passing on stories and memories. Jamie and Brad love to cook and so did my father. Everything gets passed down from generation to generation.”
• Brad: “Grilling brings people together because it is a fun outdoors experience that everyone can be a part of.”

Celebrate Dad with Schweid & Sons

This Father’s Day, we invite you to honor the dads, granddads, and father figures who’ve helped shape your family’s story. Whether it’s firing up the grill together, sharing a laugh over a perfectly cooked Burger, or just spending quality time as a family, those simple moments become lasting traditions.

Celebrate the day the Schweid & Sons way: gather your loved ones, get the grill going, and savor every bite.

• Find all Schweid & Sons’ premium Burger blends here.
• Shop your local grocers for Schweid & Sons using our store locator link here.
• Tag us with your favorite Father’s Day traditions on Instagram using @schweidandsons or #schweidandsons.
• Sign up to get all the latest recipes and product news via email.