Flint’s Beloved Coney Sauce Lives On: Koegel Meats Takes Over Production

Flint’s favorite coney sauce isn’t disappearing after all. Abbott’s Meats, the longtime producer of the iconic topping, had announced it would close its doors at the end of the year, which initially seemed like the end of Flint-style Coney Sauce. But Koegel Meats has now stepped in and will soon begin producing its own version of the beloved coney dog sauce.

Abbott’s Meats Closes After More Than a Century

The family-run Abbott’s Meats has been a Mid-Michigan favorite since 1907, and the closure comes as owner Ed Abbott II prepares for retirement. Abbott’s daughter, Brooke Abbott Clothier, said the decision wasn’t an easy one for her family.

“That’s all he really knows,” she told MLive. “He has so many long-term employees and customers that have the utmost concern for him, so that’s probably why he hung on as long as he did.”

A Local Legacy Continues

John Koegel, President and CEO of Koegel Meats, says Koegel's is happy to step up with a new recipe for a Mid-Michigan favorite.

“Koegel’s has been producing ‘Chili Sauce’ for decades to fill the demand for Koegel’s-style chili dogs,” Koegel said in a press release. “But we have recently developed and perfected our own recipe for a coney sauce that meets the flavor profile the local geography generally prefers: Flint Style Coney Sauce. The flavor and texture is exactly what you would expect from a Flint Style coney sauce… with quality you expect from Koegel’s."