Licensed now to meat fresh Xmas demand
A PIONEERING mobile abattoir company is looking forward to supplying on-farm processed Victorian beef to restaurants coming out of lockdown in Melbourne.
After surviving the challenges of COVID-19 restrictions, the Bannockburnbased start-up is hoping a busy Christmas will be a springboard into its expansion plans for 2021.
Provenir gained its PrimeSafe licence to operate in Victoria in July, more than a year after launching its Australian-first on-farm abattoir in NSW.
Developed to improve animal welfare with claims on producing better quality meat, the mobile abattoir eliminates stress to animals associated with live transport prior to processing.
Co-founder and CEO Chris Balazs said the company had grown a database of about 200 farmers who had expressed interest in using the service and restaurants were also keen to shore up supplies of Victorian on-farm processed meat.
“We have already been contacted by a number of restaurants, just confirming that they will be able to secure supply from us into the busy period,” Mr Balazs said.
“We are really looking forward to the relaxation of the restrictions in Melbourne, where we had quite a strong following pre-COVID.
“A lot of restaurants were keen for us to be producing Victorian beef, which in
March wasn’t possible because of the licensing requirements.”
Provenir was last week named the winner of Delicious magazine’s Produce Award for Outstanding Innovation, Sustainability and
Community.
Award judge Neil Perry, the recently retired chef and restaurateur, said livestock processed on the farm was the best way to go.
“It puts the farmer in control of the stress of the animal, which in turn creates amazing meat,” Mr Perry said.
“Provenir has created a sustainable model that is great for animal, environment and, most importantly, taste.”
Mr Balazs said it had been a challenging time to launch the service in Victoria, with COVID-related issues and farmers already getting handsome prices for cattle.
“Since we got the licence in late July, we have been on eight farms in Victoria, ranging from Benalla to Yea, to my farm and to Inverleigh,” he said.
Provenir is focused on proving its business model is sustainable ahead of a likely Series investment round in the middle of next year.
Mr Balazs said, in addition to proven support for a truck in NSW, it had strong interest from farmers in Rockhampton while the demand in Victoria could support up to 15 trucks once markets were secured.
Bambra boutique walnut farmer and producer, Otway Walnuts, also won a Produce Trophy, named a gold medallist in the “From The Earth” category.