Conservationist Ted Turner and award-winning restaurateur George McKerrow founded Atlanta-based Ted's Montana Grill in 2002 with a mission to help save the bison and lead sustainability efforts in the restaurant industry. Twenty years later, they've made a significant impact.
Ted’s Montana Grill has worked with Turner Ranches and others to double the herds to an estimated half a million bison in North America, saving this American icon from the endangered species list.
"The bison business was once in a state of economic meltdown due to the steep cost of live animals and unsold bison meat," said Dave Carter, executive director of the National Bison Association. "Turner and McKerrow recognized the great taste and health benefits of bison, realizing they could help save them if they made it the cornerstone of their menu. Opening Ted's was exactly what we needed to introduce consumers to bison and grow the population."
"I believe that you should set goals beyond your reach so you always have something to live for," said Ted Turner, owner of the largest private bison herd in the world. "The idea of saving an animal from extinction was once an insurmountable challenge. Witnessing the growth of bison each year is an indescribable feeling of pride. I can only hope that our herds will continue to thrive, as long as consumers continue to support bison restoration."
Ted's sustainability program has been the heart of its operations since it opened. Adopting paper straws early on in the movement, Ted's has prevented nearly 75 million plastic straws from ending up in landfills, saved 40 million gallons of water, and reduced food waste by more than half compared to the average restaurant. The restaurant sources its food locally to reduce waste, uses recycled table paper instead of linens to save water, has Boraxo soap in the restrooms, and trains its team members that sustainability is the guiding principle for every decision.
In addition, Ted's only serves ranch-raised American bison with no hormones or steroids. The meat is the leanest red meat, rich in iron and omega 3 fatty acids, among its many health benefits. Menu selections include bison burgers, steaks, meatloaf, and short ribs.
Related: Nonprofit Ranks Grocers on Chicken Welfare; BS USA Invests $130 Million in Beef Industry.