OUR LATEST NEWS AND VIEWS

The Search For New Zealand's Best Sausage Starts Now

The Search For New Zealand's Best Sausage Starts Now

Butchers from Cape Reinga to the Bluff will be fine-tuning their sausage recipes as entries open for the 2019 Devro Great New Zealand Sausage Competition.

The search for New Zealand’s tastiest snarler will begin with a panel of 32 judges, made up of foodies, butchers and industry experts, sampling and examining all competition entries over a mammoth five-day sausage fest in September. From there, the top thirteen sausages, one from each category, then go on to a final taste test where the Supreme Award-winning sausage is determined.

Breaking News, CompetitonKatie Ward5 June 2019Sausage, Sausage Competiton

Butchers to battle in the land of The Kings

Butchers to battle in the land of The Kings

The World Butchers’ Challenge boldly claims to make rockstars out of butchers and is one step further to doing so after confirming the home for the 2020 competition as Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California – the world’s most technologically advanced and sustainable arena.

Press Release, Competiton, Breaking NewsKatie Ward9 April 2019World Butchers' Challenge

The search is on for New Zealand's next top butcher

The search is on for New Zealand's next top butcher

Entries have opened for the Alto Butcher and ANZCO Foods Butcher Apprentice of the Year competitions. A firm favourite on the industry calendar, this event challenges qualified butchers and butcher apprentices from all around our fine nation, to sharpen their knives and compete head-to-head in a battle of meaty proportions.

Press Release, CompetitonKatie Ward4 April 2019Butcher of the Year, Butchers apprentice of the Year

BLAT or LAT? Do we need to give up our bacon?

BLAT or LAT? Do we need to give up our bacon?

Should we be worried over that slice of ham in our bun or including a couple of slices of bacon with that Sunday breakfast? Let’s get a clear picture on the situation in New Zealand when it comes to nitrates in our food and in processed meat.

OpinionKatie Ward2 March 2019health, nutrition

Is 'Nude' Shopping The Way Of The Future?

Is 'Nude' Shopping The Way Of The Future?

The war against plastic has begun and “Nude Shopping” is an initiative by some food retailers who are getting on board to start the battle.

OpinionKatie Ward5 February 2019nutrition, opinion, health, retail

World Butchers’ Challenge Reaches New Corners Of The Globe

World Butchers’ Challenge Reaches New Corners Of The Globe

Canada, Mexico and Iceland are the latest nations to put their meat where their mouths are and throw their knives into the ring, after being confirmed to compete in the 2020 World Butchers’ Challenge against twelve other nations.

Competiton, Breaking NewsKatie Ward24 January 2019World Butchers' Challenge

What Do Kiwis Eat On Christmas Day?

What Do Kiwis Eat On Christmas Day?

The Great New Zealand Christmas Census has spoken: pork or ham is the meat of choice for a Kiwi Christmas.

Survey, Breaking NewsKatie Ward20 December 2018Christmas, Survey

Here come the Sharp Blacks: New Zealand butchery team announced

Here come the Sharp Blacks: New Zealand butchery team announced

New Zealand’s butchery team – The Sharp Blacks – has been announced as they kick off their journey to the 2020 World Butchers’ Challenge (WBC) in Sacramento, California. The seven-man team, which includes one reserve, is made up of the best butchers from across the country and preparation will now start in earnest as they plan for the ‘Olympics of Butchery’ in September 2020.

Press ReleaseKatie Ward31 October 2018Sharp Blacks

New Zealand's Top Sausages Announced

New Zealand's Top Sausages Announced

New World Te Rapa, Hamilton and Westmere Butchery, Auckland have been announced as the Supreme Award winners for the 2018 Devro Great New Zealand Sausage Competition at an awards dinner in Auckland this evening. The judges couldn’t split Westmere Butchery’s beef and mushroom sausage and an Angus beef sausage from New World Te Rapa, instead crowning them joint winners of the Supreme Award in what is believed to be a first for the competition.

Competiton, Press ReleaseKatie Ward20 October 2018Sausage Competiton

Black pudding - Like It Or Loath It, It's Here To Stay

Black pudding - Like It Or Loath It, It's Here To Stay

For as long as we have been farming animals, we have been producing some form of black pudding, originally made for peasants and yet it still exists in modern day - this to me is a true example of how something has stood the test of time, in fact Id go so far as to say its making a comeback.

CompetitonKatie Ward20 September 2018Sausage Competiton

Sausages sizzles, effectively helping our communities one bite at a time.

Sausages sizzles, effectively helping our communities one bite at a time.

Small, unassuming and simple - yet capable of getting entire youth football teams to international competitions. An oldie but a goodie, sausage sizzles are a tried and true method of fundraising and lucrative Saturday morning sausage sizzle spots outside hardware-stores are more popular than ever.

CompetitonKatie Ward18 July 2018Sausage Competiton

A sausage for all seasons

A sausage for all seasons

More often than not, we restrict our menus to suit the current season which includes selecting various type of meats for those seasonal dishes. We default to casseroles using slow cooked cuts in winter, whilst summer often means steaks on the barbecue and more stir fries than usual. But take the humble sausage - which suits a whole multitude of dishes. We’d say, sausages are wanderers; happy to be part of a damn good meal at any time of the year, which is why sausages have to be our ultimate food for any season.

CompetitonKatie Ward20 June 2018Sausage Competiton

The hunt is on... Who's making New Zealand's tastiest sausage?

The hunt is on... Who's making New Zealand's tastiest sausage?

Butchers across the country are fine tuning their best sausage recipes in the hopes of winning the Devro Great New Zealand Sausage Competition.

Competiton, Press ReleaseKatie Ward13 June 2018Sausage Competiton

New Innovation Category Announced For Sausage Competition

New Innovation Category Announced For Sausage Competition

In addressing consumer demand, Retail Meat New Zealand have introduced an innovation category into the competition for 2018. This category aims to acknowledge diversity amongst consumer needs in an ever-changing environment.

CompetitonKatie Ward9 June 2018Sausage Competiton

Kiwi Butchers Finish Second On World Stage

Kiwi Butchers Finish Second On World Stage

New Zealand’s butchery team, The Pure South Sharp Blacks, just missed out on being crowned world champions yesterday after finishing runners up at the World Butchers’ Challenge in Belfast, Northern Ireland.

Katie Ward24 March 2018Sharp Blacks

New Zealand Butchers Prepare To Take On The World

New Zealand Butchers Prepare To Take On The World

New Zealand’s national butchery team, the Pure South Sharp Blacks have their knives lined up for a final sharpening before heading to Ireland for the 2018 World Butchers’ Challenge.

Press Release, Breaking NewsKatie Ward2 March 2018World Butchers' Challenge, Sharp Blacks

The Pure South Sharp Blacks Narrowly Defeated By Australia

The Pure South Sharp Blacks Narrowly Defeated By Australia

The Pure South Sharp Blacks, our national butchery team, suffered a narrow defeat at today’s Trans–Tasman test match against the Australian Steelers.

Press ReleaseKatie Ward19 May 2017Sharp Blacks, Trans-Tasman Test Match

The Knives Are Out For Ultimate Trans-Tasman Rivalry

The Knives Are Out For Ultimate Trans-Tasman Rivalry

The Pure South Sharp Blacks, our national butchery team, are currently in preparation to take on the world’s best butchers but first they must prove themselves against their toughest competition, Australia.

Press ReleaseKatie Ward2 May 2017World Butchers' Challenge, Trans-Tasman Test Match, Sharp Blacks

Pure South Sharp Blacks Team Announced For 2016 World Butchers' Challenge

Pure South Sharp Blacks Team Announced For 2016 World Butchers' Challenge

Six of the nation’s best butchers have been named as part of the 2016 Pure South Sharp Blacks – New Zealand’s national butchery team that compete internationally each year.

Katie Ward1 April 2016