GOLDEN RUN CONTINUES FOR ALLIANCE GROUP AT WORLD STEAK CHALLENGE
Alliance Group has continued its run of awards, adding to the gold at the Outstanding NZ Food Producer Awards 2023, but this time on the world’s stage.
Pure South Handpicked 55 Day Aged Beef won top honours in the prestigious World Steak Challenge – awarded two gold medals and two silver medals by a panel of expert judges at the competition in the Netherlands.
The co-operative won gold medals for ribeye and fillet steaks processed at the company’s Pukeuri plant near Oamaru. Ribeye and fillet steaks processed at the Mataura plant in Southland won silver medals.
Shane Kingston, general manager sales and marketing at Alliance Group, says it was a proud moment for the co-operative and farmer shareholders.
“This global recognition validates our exceptional focus on excellence as we continue to grow our scale in premium beef. The farmers who supply our Pure South Handpicked 55 Day Aged Beef programme deserve great credit for this very high-quality award-winning product.
“This success will also help build confidence among consumers that we are continuing to create world-class products.”
The aged beef is carefully selected by internationally accredited assessors from prime cattle of any breed. Only a fraction of the very finest beef makes the grade, and it is in demand by customers across the world.
The selection is based on quantifiable meat quality characteristics including marbling, fat colour and pH. Selected cuts are then aged in vacuum bags. The quality of product and the aging process results in a milder beef profile with exceptional levels of tenderness.
Alliance Group is a true, blue Kiwi company – since 1948.
“A group of farmers in Southland took it upon themselves to form Alliance Freezing Company (Southland) Limited to process and market high-quality meat and co-products to international markets,” says the company.
“The first processing plant was opened in the heart of Southland’s farming community, Lorneville, near Invercargill in 1960, and in 1980 the company’s ownership structure changed to become a farmer-owned co-operative.
“Our journey from a small Kiwi business to success on the global stage is down to our reputation for food excellence and starts with Kiwi farmers who uphold high animal welfare standards. But it doesn’t stop there. Alliance’s success starts on the farm but it’s an ongoing journey to identify opportunities across the entire co-operative to capture more market value so we can pay farmers more for their livestock. That’s why we continually invest in technology and have the highest levels of environmental sustainability.
