Shawn and Will Nicholas at the 100% New Zealand Bacon and Ham Awards in Auckland.
Waipā butchery Expleo picked up two medals at the national bacon and ham awards in Auckland last week.
The judging process spanned three days the panel evaluated 233 entries crafted using New Zealand pork.
Products were judged across eight bacon and three ham categories.
Supreme judge Todd Treadwell. Photo: Retail Meat NZ
Te Awamutu-based Expleo won silver for their dry cured middle bacon and bronze for their bone in ham.
Fellow Waikato winner Matamata-based Meat Matas Butchery were category champions for their Christmas rolls boneless ham, gold medallists for their streaky bacon and bronze winners for their middle bacon.
“It’s always a great event to catch up with others in the industry and hear how they are doing,” Expleo owner Shawn Nicholas said.
“The win, wow, to receive an award is truly tremendous. The work behind the scenes, new ideas, different recipes, tweaks here and there, it’s our benchmark and it tells us we are mixing it with the big boys pretty darn well.
Technical judge Todd Treadwell from Well Hung Butchery in Milford said the winning bacon and ham demonstrated all the qualities the judges were looking for – balance, great flavour, a satisfying mouthfeel – not too salty, moist or dry.
“We’re looking for that perfect combination, and this year’s winners definitely delivered it,” Treadwell said.
“It’s great to see such a high standard of products coming through.
“It shows how important this competition is in raising standards across the industry and reassuring consumers they are getting an amazing product made with 100 per cent New Zealand pork.”
Shawn and Will Nicholas at the 100% New Zealand Bacon and Ham Awards in Auckland.
