MEDIA RELEASE

For Immediate Release
28 August 2006

Search on for New Zealand’s supreme sausage

Sausage lovers rejoice as the search for New Zealand’s best banger begins!

The Great New Zealand Sausage Competition is an annual highlight for butchers and small-goods manufacturers as they compete for the coveted title of Supreme Sausage, to be presented at Wellington’s Duxton Hotel on Wednesday, 8 November 2006.

Entries for the 2006 competition are now open, with organisers anticipating over 400 entries for the event.

The competition is now in its twelfth year and always attracts a wide range of sausages. A “Thuringer Bratwurst” from Wellington sausage manufacturer Westmeat was judged the Supreme winner in last year’s competition, the second time they have achieved the award.

Westmeat Manager Grahame Law says their supreme win radically altered their business. They went from selling 20-30 kilos of sausage in a week to selling 250 kilos per week following the competition, with sales still strong. “It was amazing. Right from the moment our Bratwurst was announced supreme on radio and television, it was all go,” says Mr Law.

The nine competition categories are: Beef; Pork; BBQ; Flavoured; Flavoured BBQ; Saveloy/Polony/Cocktail; Traditional; International; and Gourmet. Judging will take place on 3 & 4 November at Wellington Institute of Technology’s Hospitality School in Petone, Lower Hutt.

Retail Meat New Zealand’s General Manager, Stephen Macaulay, says the competition “offers the opportunity for sausage makers to prove the excellence of their creations against their peers. Category awards and the supreme prize are highly sought after within the industry, with previous winners reporting substantial increases in profile and brand awareness.”

“The competition is a good opportunity to increase your business profile on a national scale,” says past winner Nick Fisher of Fishers Meats. “Winning definitely increased our exposure and consequent sales.”

Selected entrants from several categories will also compete in the Kids Choice Awards. Together with our judges, a panel of young experts will put their discerning palates to work to choose a favourite.

Devro, a world leader in the development, production and marketing of collagen casings for sausages is once again the proud principal sponsor for the Great New Zealand Sausage Competition. The competition is also supported by Kerry Ingredients, with packaging supplied by Alto.

Entry forms for the 2006 competition have been sent out to last year’s participants, so keep an eye out for it in the mail. If you weren’t involved last year and would like to enter, please contact Retail Meat New Zealand on 0800 88 00 99. Entries close on Friday, 13 October.

ENDS