North Otago pig farmers Gus and Sue Morton are not only
bringing home the bacon - they are selling it direct to the
public.
Mr and Mrs Morton, who market their produce through the
Waitaki Bacon and Ham label - focusing on a "farm gate to
plate" experience for the consumer, have added a retail shop
to their business.
The new venture, which meant their products were farmed,
owned and now manufactured in New Zealand, was exciting, Mrs
Morton said.
The Waitaki Pork Pantry opens later this month in premises in
Redruth St, Timaru, offering "all things pork" and providing
traceability for consumers, with linkage being undertaken to
determine the litter it came from.
In March, Waitaki Bacon and Ham started to butcher its
animals and expanded the wholesale arm of the business. All
pork is processed on site by two butchers.
Mrs Morton was thrilled to incorporate New Zealand chefs who
will feature at the Pantry, offering cooking demonstrations,
tips and tastings.
Customers could take home not only the product but also the
recipe and ingredients, to duplicate the eating experience at
home. She wanted to get New Zealanders confident with cooking
pork, bacon or ham.
Country of origin information was lacking in the pork arena
and the Pork Pantry added confidence, she said.
She aimed to also partner with other growers who had products
that worked well with pork, whether it was lemons, which
enhanced the flavour of pork, or olive oil from Central
Otago.
The birthplace of Waitaki Bacon and Ham is on the banks of
the Waitaki River, where the Mortons' farm Hampshire pigs.
Mr Morton has 30 years' experience in the pork industry,
while his wife is focused on developing the brand along with
marketing the products.
The company sells at the Otago Farmers Market, Queenstown
Farmers Market, Oamaru Farmers Market and Deans Bush market,
in Christchurch.
Wholesale, retail and hospitality sectors have been
purchasing the company's products for the past four years in
online sales throughout New Zealand.
Last year, their rustic pork sausages won the best new
hospitality food or drink product at the Fine Food New
Zealand food industry exhibition in Auckland.
While it was unfortunate they could not open a store in their
hometown of Oamaru, because they could not find the right
location, the concept of the Pork Pantry could be implemented
around New Zealand, they said.
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