Queenstown meat business flying high

A stellar year of growth and recognition on a national scale has seen a Queenstown-based meat business go from strength to strength.

Zamora The Meat Preachers’ is flying high after a record year for its retail and wholesale operations, thanks to its loyal customer base and after notching up two prestigious gold awards against fierce competition. 

South American-born directors Matias Mautone, 34, and Nicolas Karlsson, 37, launched Zamora in 2010 with a simple objective – to re-create the homemade food which they enjoyed with their families growing up.

They both had a real passion for meats and saw the opportunity to combine traditional South American and European recipes and techniques with fine New Zealand ingredients sourced from South Island producers.

Their love of delicious food and quality meat saw Zamora’s pork and sage sausage take home gold in the traditional category at Devro’s Great New Zealand Sausage Competition in October.  
Their crafted smoke porchetta also “wowed” judges and received a gold medal in the innovative category at the New Zealand Pork, Bacon and Ham Awards in July. 

At their local deli shop in Queenstown they’ve been getting rave reviews for their daily-changing lunch menu which delivers a different sandwich each day, extremely popular with ‘in-the-know’ locals and the odd lucky visitor who finds them in their semi-industrial setting on the edge of town.

Their wholesale business sees them supply an ever-increasing list of discerning restaurants and award-winning cafés, and likewise their catering arm for events, weddings and corporate functions.

In seven years they’ve grown to a team of eight – the two directors, five ‘meat preachers’ and an accountant, and business has experienced exponential growth year-on-year. 

Adding a modern twist to the Kiwi ‘barbie’, Matias says they’re proud of what they’ve achieved so far and hints at further growth and exposure to come in 2018. 

“Our growth has stemmed from product innovation and development, based predominately on retail and wholesale customer feedback. There’s no better way to grow your business!”

Photo: Zamora directors Nicolas Karlsson (L) and Matias Mautone.