ABOUT US

1908

Frank’s Foods, Inc. was started by Frederick “Frank” Frenz, a German immigrant born in 1908. At a young age, Frank was sent to live with a sausage making family until the age of 18 to learn a trade that he could build into a life. Traveling on a ship to New York, he worked as a chef in the 1920's learning skills that would benefit him for life. Eventually, Frank made his way to Hawai'i.

1955

Frank and his former wife, Esther “Mimsey” Frenz (who worked as a nurse in Hilo), had three sons all born in Hilo, Hawaiʻi in the 1940’s. Their three sons, Mike, David, and Bruce Frenz all worked together to build the initial smoke house and processing room by creating the large cement blocks that took days to press and dry in the sun before they could be used. That original structure is used today as the front office where we greet our customers daily.

Frank worked on Maui for a few years before relocating to Hilo and working for several local meat companies before starting Frank’s Foods, Inc. in 1955.

1975

Frank’s oldest son, Michael “Mike” Frenz took over the day-to-day operations for Frank’s Foods, Inc. Mike Frenz has been running Frank’s Foods, Inc. since then (for over 25 years) and Mike is now in his early 80’s.

Mike is married to Marcy Frenz for over 50 years and they have two daughters, Coral Frenz-Wong (who resides in Austin, TX) and Dakota “Cody” Frenz who resides in Hilo and works at the family business on weekends. Cody Frenz will one day take over the family business to hopefully run a third-generation family-owned business in their hometown.

2024

Mike’s younger brother David Frenz, lives next door with his wife Patty, and helps with the many jobs of owning a family business and pastureland with cattle. The youngest of the three Frenz boys, Bruce Frenz, passed in 2021 (he was a veterinarian in Hilo).

Mike has carried on his father’s promise to always produce quality products at a reasonable price. If Frank’s Foods’ cost decreases, so does our price to our customers (we never inflate costs for added profit to the detriment to our customers). Frank’s Foods believes that it takes months to earn a customer, and only seconds to lose them. As a small mom & pop business, we strive to always put out products that we would serve on our own table at home.

Our tagline “Gotta Be Frank’s Foods” was created by Mike Manarpaac, our driver supervisor who has worked at Frank’s Foods for almost 20 years and is married to Cody Frenz, the granddaughter of Frank’s Foods creator, Frederick “Frank” Frenz. It represents our passion and belief that if you want quality products at a reasonable price, then “Its Gotta Be Frank’s Foods!”