Joey D’s Jerky is a family-owned business run by master jerky maker Joseph “Joey” DiSalvo who has spent more than ten years perfecting the tastes and flavors of his gourmet products.

What started out as a friendly competition with a co-worker over who could make the best jerky has now mushroomed into a flourishing business with a growing customer base of enthusiastic fans.

It was back in 1999 that Joey acquired a small hydrator and started to make jerky. He competed against a friend to see who could come up with the best tasting jerky. Other friends could see – and taste – the potential and encouraged him to experiment more.

Armed with a five-tray dehydrator, Joey began testing different spice combinations.

“I think my friends just wanted me to make jerky for them, but I also started to make jerky for trips, family outings and I would take it in for snacks at work,” Joey said.

“My friends and family were the guinea pigs for the concoctions I came up with but before long I was getting requests for different styles and tastes,” he said.

This eventually evolved into the four flavors Joey offers today – Original, Tangy, Teriyaki and Hot.

He realized that his jerky had serious commercial potential after a friend bought another product off the Internet. He told Joey it was the worst he had ever tasted so Joey gave him some of his own to try. “He said it was the best jerky he had ever tasted. He became my first paying customer and that was how Joey D’s Jerky was born,” said Joey.

Today, Joey D’s Jerky can be bought online and at a growing number of specialist stores and outlets in Central Florida. You can also find it at local events such as Leesburg Bikefest and Orlando Farmers Market.

The Joey D's Jerky facility has been USDA inspected since August 2008. Joey D's Jerky follows a strict HACCP plan that allows for production of safe product for everyone to enjoy.

Now a major marketing drive has been launched to promote the gourmet products to an even larger audience.

“Joey D’s Jerky has a world famous taste and is a product that all true jerky lovers need to experience,” said Joey. “Every bite is like biting into a little piece of heaven.”