Farmland Foods Founder Allan Davis was only 18 when he made his first batch of bacon out the back of the family butcher shop in Palmerston North. It wasn’t an auspicious start to his smallgoods business. Allan recalls, “We were so excited when we got the bacon out, but it was that salty you couldn’t eat it. We had to start again.”
Allan’s first run of bacon may not have been a success. But he’s improved his game quite a bit since then. This year marks Farmland Food’s 60th anniversary. The business has come a long way since Allan sold his first batch of corned silverside to the local supermarket, yet it’s still a proud, passionate New Zealand family owned business run in Bulls in the Rangitikei district, and you can buy corned beef made to that very same recipe, to this day.
To celebrate their 60th birthday, Farmland Foods will be touring the country from Invercargill to Kaitaia to say thank you to supermarkets and their shoppers. Farmland Foods National Sales and Marketing Manager Robbie Dale says, “We’re so grateful to be in business after 60 years, thankful that supermarkets continue to support us, and that New Zealanders continue to enjoy our products.”
Look out for the Farmland Foods trailer outside supermarkets
The Farmland Foods team will be parking up outside supermarkets and serving up their award-winning hams, bacon, and other savoury treats. They’ll be raising money as they go for the Social Supermarkets initiative in the North Island and the Christchurch City Mission in the South Island.
Farmland Foods have supported the Social Supermarkets movement since its launch in 2021. The Social Supermarkets are a Foodstuffs North Island project that aims to create a dignified experience for families struggling to afford food, by offering food and groceries in a supermarket environment at low or no cost. The Farmland Foods anniversary tour starts at the opening of the 11th Social Supermarket store in Ōtāhuhu, Auckland on the 11th of April.
Family comes first for Farmland Foods
Robbie says, “Farmland Foods is proud to be a New Zealand family-owned business, working with New Zealand family-owned supermarkets. And when we talk about family, we don’t only mean the Davis family, who started the business, but also the whole 200-strong Farmland Foods family.”
“New Zealand shoppers are facing big challenges right now. People are struggling. We believe we’re all in this together as a community, and when things get tough we take that promise even more seriously. This year, more than ever, we’re looking for ways to offer New Zealand families true value for money and support our supermarket partners to do that too.”
2024 is a year of deep appreciation for Farmland Foods. Robbie says, “We’ve learned so much from supermarket owners and our corporate partners. They’ve helped us evolve, grow, and remain relevant after 60 years. We’re looking forward to visiting stores to say thank you, as much as we’re looking forward to being around for another 60 years.”
Farmland Foods will be in touch with supermarkets in the coming weeks asking if you’d like a visit from the trailer on tour. So be on the
lookout and book your slot.
