Heller Awarded for NZ's Top Bacon

NEW ZEALAND - Kiwis know nothing beats a rasher of 100% New Zealand Bacon on a Sunday morning – and now they know the best to be had is from Heller in Christchurch.
calendar icon 27 May 2008
clock icon 3 minute read

Heller’s Tasty Danish bacon took out the national prize at the inaugural Lesnies 100% New Zealand Bacon Competition triumphing against fierce competition from 232 other bacons.


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"Across all categories, entrants' bacon exhibited an extremely high standard of taste, texture and smell that proves how great our country's bacon is."
Steve Logan - head judge, Wellington restaurateur and television chef

Heller’s Todd Heller was absolutely ecstatic with the victory: “It’s a fantastic win for us. We are committed to sourcing the finest NZ produce to make our bacons and to top the pile in such a fiercely contested competition is just awesome.”

Heller is a fourth generation butcher, and says consumers are demanding New Zealand bacon.

More than 100 bacon producers from across the country entered the bacon competition across four categories: Middle, Shoulder, Streaky and Danish.

Murchison Meats from took out the Middle bacon category, Elite Meats from Christchurch won the Shoulder bacon category, Franklin Country Meats from Pukekohe clinched the Streaky bacon category, whilst Heller Tasty from Christchurch wrapped up the competition by winning the Danish bacon category.

Steve Logan – head judge, Wellington restaurateur and television chef – says the judges were blown away by the high standard of the entrants.

“Across all categories, entrants’ bacon exhibited an extremely high standard of taste, texture and smell that proves how great our country’s bacon is.”

“The winner tops a very fine heap and was awarded the title for producing a unique tasting, well-rounded bacon,” Mr Logan says.

The Lesnies 100% New Zealand Bacon Competition was only open to bacons produced in New Zealand using New Zealand pork. Industry body, New Zealand Pork, says the competition evolved from an increasing consumer demand for 100% New Zealand bacon, but the inability for customers to identify bacon made from New Zealand Pork on the shelf.

Sam McIvor, New Zealand Pork CEO says: “Consumers know about the 800,000kgs of foreign pork that’s arriving in New Zealand every week last year, and they want bacon only made from New Zealand Pork. With this competition we’ve found the best of the best. You can’t beat the quality of our homegrown bacon!”

“This year has been great and we’re already planning the 2009 competition to be just as exciting, tasty, fresh and challenging!”

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