You’re hungry for lunch, maybe planning tonight’s dinner, or looking for a main course for your special holiday meal.
You walk into Chilliwack’s Multi Pack Deli and Foods and begin to browse the array of cured and fresh meats, along with cheeses, locally baked rolls and miscellaneous European canned and fresh delicacies.
As you consider your options, you might notice a photo of a young family: it features two-year-old Mike Wettig with his dad, longtime master sausage maker Guenter Wettig; and mom, Almuth, in front of their meat shop in 1962 in Hannover, Germany. The photo speaks to family and is a reminder of the traditions that Multi Pack owners Mike and wife, Astrid Wettig have built since opening the shop in 1998.
Old country food with a modern flair
If you’re a regular at Multi Pack, there’s a good chance you were drawn by one of the many products made fresh, in-house. The early days saw Mike make his own bratwurst, but purchase most other products from wholesalers. Today, up to 80 per cent of the meats they sell – from Lyoner and summer beer sausage to pepperoni to oven-roasted turkey, smoked chicken and many more – are produced on the premises.
The store’s product line expanded about 12 years ago, when Mike and Astrid bought out a small wholesaler who specialized in Dutch-style sausages and products. They ultimately bought the recipes, too.
“That actually opened things up for me to make more of my own sausages,” Mike says, adding that his German heritage and his father’s teachings continue to inspire his work. “And more recently, customers requested products with no MSG or gluten-free, and that’s led to us making even more items in house.”
The sandwiches are legendary, too
While products like fresh cuts of beef and pork, and handmade specialty meats are their calling card, this deli once provided delicious sandwiches around the Fraser Valley. While the wholesale side of that business has mostly ended, the tradition of quality made-to-order sandwiches makes Multi Pack the place to go for a fresh lunch.
It also helped earn them the 2018 “A List” award for Best Deli, as voted on by readers of The Progress.
Of course, the many grateful dog owners who stop by to pick up bones for the family pet are also among Multi Pack Deli’s longstanding loyal customers. You’ll find the furry faces of many current and past pets on the shop’s “wall of fame.”
“Some customers have been coming to us for so long they feel like a part of our family, and their dogs are a big part of their families … so part of ours as well,” Mike laughs.
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Mike and Astrid invite you to stop by the shop at Nowell Street and Victoria Avenue. You can also find Multi Pack Deli and Foods on Facebook.
