Nicky and Jamie Gaddum, the founders of Matangi Angus Beef, share their inspiring stories of overcoming adversity and achieving success in the boutique butchery industry.
The couple discusses the impact of Cyclone Gabrielle on their operations, which led to a significant halt in production and a loss of a substantial amount of meat. The disaster forced the Gaddums to make a critical decision; to cease their business or to take full control by bringing the operation in-house.
Opting for resilience, they chose to build a boutique butchery and processing facility in the foodie area of eastern Hastings. This new venture includes a custom-built dry aging facility that has become a highlight for visitors.
"We've custom-built a dry aging facility that you can see from the retail butchery. [...] It's grabbing people's attention, you know," Jamie says.
Despite their concerns about potentially losing their customer base during their operational hiatus, the Gaddums were met with incredible community support upon their return. This backing not only helped them retain their clientele but also allowed them to grow and attract new customers in Hastings.
Their commitment to quality and innovation has led to their triumph at the Outstanding Food Producer Awards, where their Matangi beef bavette was a joint winner in the Paddock category.
Moreover, the conversation reveals the couple's upcoming feature on Country Calendar and their plans to scale up the business, intending to double the number of cattle they process over the next 12 to 18 months.
"It gives us the scope to be able to scale up the business we're wanting to almost double the number of cattle we'll be doing over the next 12 to 18 months," Jamie explains.
In addition to their physical butchery, the Gaddum's have an online store that plays a significant role in their business, delivering their beef nationwide with a guarantee of freshness and quality.
"We work incredibly hard with New Zealand Post to make sure that the orders are delivered on a Thursday and we guarantee everything."
The conversation concludes with a sense of optimism and excitement for the future, as the couple invites listeners to visit their butchery and explore their offerings.
Listen to the full chat between Nicky + Jamie Gaddum and Dominic George above.
To check out more episodes listen to the REX Podcast anytime on your favourite streaming platforms including Spotify, Apple Music and Rova.
Visit the Rural Exchange Facebook or Instagram page for more information and regular updates from the REX team.
