MEDIA RELEASE
100% New Zealand Bacon & Ham Competition seeks the best of the best
Auckland, Thursday9 July 2013: When it comes to bacon and ham, it simply doesn’t get any better than 100% New Zealand home, crafted by the country’s
top butchers and cured meat artisans.
This year the 100% NZ Bacon & Ham Competition has attracted 200 tasty entries from throughout the country. On 19 July, a 33 strong panel which
includes leading chefs, food connoisseurs, and master butchers convenes in Wellington to determine which top bacon and
ham maker is the best of the best, using only 100% New Zealand farmed pork.
As usual, the competition will be fiercely contested, with the victors taking home trophies, industry pride and
significant commercial benefit from winning one of the coveted categories. The results of the 100% NZ Bacon of the Year
competition, including Gold, Silver and Bronze medallists, will be announced on 8 August, while the 100% NZ Ham of the
Year will be announced in October – in plenty of time to get your Christmas Ham order in.
Why 100% New Zealand bacon and ham?
With more than 60% of the bacon and ham sold in New Zealand made from imported pork, more and more people want to know
their bacon and ham comes from down home on the farm – 100% homegrown in New Zealand. The 100% New Zealand Pork, PigCare
Accredited label is the guarantee to look for. Only bacon and ham crafted from locally produced pork raised right here
on New Zealand farms can bear this label.
Bacon and ham crafted from 100% New Zealand pork
Confidence in the origin of New Zealand pork, in particular its freshness, quality and consistency, is essential to
butchers in creating competition winners. New Zealand butchers are strong supporters of New Zealand farmers, because
they are among the world’s leaders in pig welfare and food safety, and producing the finest quality, and most definitely
the freshest pork.
Fifty-three butcheries have registered for the 2013 competition, with nearly 200 entries in total. Over 130 bacons have
been entered across five categories, and over 60 hams in the two categories.
The high number and quality of entries will make judging the category winners difficult, not to mention the supreme
100% NZ Bacon of the Year and 100% NZ Ham of the Year awards. Last year’s 100% NZ Bacon of the Year winner, Ellesmere
Butchery, is defending its title, entering product across five categories of the competition. The 2012 100% NZ Ham of
the Year winner, Nosh Food Market, is also hoping to take away top honours in 2013.
Other entrants this year include 2012 Category winners for bacon, Franklin Country Meats, Avons Butchery, Sam’s
Butchery, and Euro Deli Meats, as well as ham medallists Westmere Butchery and Ellesmere Butchery. But if anyone feels
their local butcher has the best bacon or ham, they have the opportunity to ‘put in a good word’.
Consumers’ Choice Award
Kiwis are passionate about bacon and ham, and many have participated in the Consumers’ Choice Award in the past. This
Award is decided by a public TXT vote for the most popular bacon and ham maker. New Zealand butchers provide their
communities with high quality, fresh New Zealand pork, and being supported by their customers is the ultimate
recognition for many butchers. Grey Lynn Butchers, last year’s Consumers’ Choice Award winner, is back and keen to
defend its title. Look for the Consumer’s Choice information at your local butcher now.
For more information at: www.pork.co.nz.
ENDS