MEET YOUR {OUTSTANDING} MAKER - BEARD BROTHERS

Beard Brothers are makers of old-school sausages and meat patties. Whether you’re cooking up a mean feed of patties and beers for the boys, prepping casseroles to come home to after a long day or just craving the flavour of true New Zealand goodness, save a seat for Beard Brothers at your table.

Pork, beef, venison, goat and spices – you name it, they’ll serve it! The family-run Beard Brothers received multiple medals in the 2021 Outstanding New Zealand Food Producer Awards; scoring Silver for their Old School Venison Sausages and Bronze for their Old School Pork and Pure Beef Sausages. However, what really sets them apart is that they don’t cut corners. “We’ve stripped everything right back and let the meat tell the story,” says Rob Beard.

Having worked in the grape industry from the age of 15, one day Rob woke up and decided he needed a change. There’s enough wine to go around for every New Zealander, threefold. Rob took a good look at his life in sunny Hawke’s Bay and decided he didn’t want to prune another grape. What he loves most is family, food and good old-fashioned Kiwi adventure, so he took the plunge and turned his hobby into a business naming it after his three sons who grew up hunting, gathering and cooking. Beard Brothers strive to bring sustainably caught and minimally-processed meats to our plates with ease.

While pure beef sausages are the best sellers for Beard Brothers, their pork range is not far behind. Never content, Rob is constantly innovating and always looking for new inspiration. South Africa’s iconic sausage, Boerewors, is a standout in Beard Brothers range and always a hit over the summer. Beard Brothers beef or venison patties are growing in popularity and make a delicious hamburger even better!

Diversity of flavour is important to maintain a competitive point of advantage. Local indigenous flavour is at the forefront of products such as Pork and Puha sausages. A recent collaboration with Sachie’s Kitchen in Auckland lead to the flash new Beard Brothers Pork, Plum and Hoisin Sausages, yum!

Although Rob’s job brings him immense satisfaction – seriously he doesn’t shut up about it – he does know how to relax and his favourite spot for that is Taupō. The quiet, scenic, play-a-plenty location offers the Beard Brothers just what the doctor ordered. To relax Rob and his family enjoy hunting, fishing and diving for crayfish and pāua, then sharing their catch.

Then for Rob it’s back to work, ensuring Beard Brothers delivers happiness with every mouthful.