Embargoed until 8am on Friday, 1 April 2016
Media release Nelson freeze-dried adventure food company, Absolute Wilderness, releases new Big Mac product
In what’s believed to be a world first, Nelson-based company Absolute Wilderness has released its latest product - a
freeze dried Big Mac. While trampers, mountaineers and adventure racers have believed for some time that the Big Mac is
the most comprehensive food for outdoor activity, Big Macs had yet to be freeze dried - until now.
Utilising Absolute Wilderness’s unique freeze-drying process, the team has been able to bring the finished weight down
to 90 grams from a fresh weight of 240 grams. Despite the massive weight reduction the burger retains the same
nutritional content as a fresh Big Mac.
“We’re already known for the fastest rehydrating meals around but when you think about it fast food is really the
fastest of all the food groups - so it was a natural progression,” says Absolute Wilderness Managing Director Andrew
MacDonald.
In order to maintain quality each burger is purchased individually (with a combo) and taken straight to Absolute
Wilderness’ Stoke factory. “For us it was important to use a locally made Big Mac. When you’re making food for the
world’s top outdoor athletes great ingredient providence takes the product to the next level,” says MacDonald. “This
isn’t an official partnership with McDonalds but the guy who took my order thought it was a really good idea so we’ve
just rolled with it.”
Although it’s yet to be released, demand for the Big Mac has been strong. As for what’s next, company director Nathan Fa’avae was coy saying, “we’re not naming names but we’re keen to work in
the fried chicken medium”.
The burgers will be available exclusively from Absolute Wilderness’s online store www.absolutewilderness.co.nz.
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About Absolute Wilderness:
Absolute Wilderness (owned by Andy MacDonald, Grant MacDonald and Nathan Fa’avae) is a Nelson-based freeze-dried food
company with a difference – its tastes just like the food you would cook at home, weighs next to nothing and all you
need to do is add water and it’s ready to eat. Using ingredients like Marlborough saffron, Heilala Vanilla and Sauvignon
Blanc wine Absolute Wilderness has created freeze-dried meals with a gourmet twist – even the scrambled eggs comes with
bacon, chives and hollandaise sauce.
Product development began in 2012 with the company perfecting dishes such as apples on creamed rice, couscous salad,
Thai red curry, mushroom risotto, beef bourguignon and banana smoothie. All the meals are 100% freeze dried, which makes
them ultra lightweight and means that they rehydrate quickly. Absolute Wilderness is the only company in the world that
completely vacuum packs all its meals.