Mike’s Beef Jerky, a famous South Australian brand, recently won the title of Australia’s Best Beef Jerky at the National AMIC Charcuterie Awards held in Sydney. At the prestigious event, which is the pinnacle for small goods and charcuterie in Australia, Mike’s Beef Jerky took home four Gold medals, two Silver medals, and was named National Category Champions for their Chilli Beef Jerky. To top it off, they were also awarded Australia’s Best Chilli Cheese Kranskys.
People came from far and wide across Australia to showcase their goods at the awards. Mike of Mike’s Beef Jerky attended with Cindy, his business partner and wife, and described the win as a huge achievement: “We were very humbled to be in the presence of all those people and be awarded Australia’s Best Beef Jerky.”
Operating out of Robe in South Australia, Mike’s Beef Jerky is known for its premium, flavourful products made from 100% Australian beef. Each piece of jerky is made with a special blend of spices and a subtle natural wood-smoke finish, which results in a unique taste that sets it apart from other brands. Their flavours include Original, Black Pepper, and Chilli.
Mike and Cindy have been making beef jerky for family and friends for nearly 40 years, so they know a thing or two about how to do it well. Originally from Canada, they moved to South Australia 25 years ago, turning their passion into a successful commercial venture.
“Everybody has always loved our products, so about four years ago, we decided to take it to the next level,” Mike says. “It’s just gone from strength to strength.”
Mike and Cindy first came to South Australia back in 1998 for work in the timber industry, where they spent some time in the South East. The opportunity later came up for them to buy a property in Robe, which they initially used as a holiday home. About six or seven years ago, they made it their permanent home, expecting to semi-retire.
“We said, we’re a little bit too young to retire, so we’ve got to do something that we’re not half bad at,” Mike says. “So we started making beef jerky… so much for semi-retirement.”
Mike’s Beef Jerky shines among the beef jerky crowd because of its unique wood-smoking process, which keeps the jerky moist and flavourful, compared to the typically drier dehydrated varieties. They use high-quality meat sourced from 36 South Beef in Naracoorte, ensuring that every product is strictly South Australian.
Along with their success in Robe, Mike’s Beef Jerky has made a name for itself nationwide. With nearly 1,500 stockists, including major retailers like Drakes, Woolworths, Foodland, OTR, and Tony and Mark’s, the brand has a strong presence across Australia. Their biggest market remains SA, but they’re quickly expanding into Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland, and the Northern Territory.
Looking to the future, Mike’s Beef Jerky will continue to expand nationally and has recently invested heavily in their Robe factory. Mike says that meat snacks are among the fastest-growing food snacks globally, and Australia is no exception. The business is focused on continuing to explore domestic opportunities before taking over the world and expanding internationally, but they have received interest in exporting to the United Arab Emirates and Asia.
“We haven’t done that at this stage because we just feel there is a lot of the domestic market here to provide for. We’ll exhaust those avenues before we consider the export market,” Mike says.
With their dedication to quality, Mike’s Beef Jerky is set to continue its impressive growth and remain the star on top of the beef jerky tree. After being awarded the title of Australia’s Best Beef Jerky, it’s no wonder why Mike’s has become a favourite snack for many.
Mike’s Beef Jerky
Where: 6 White St, Robe SA 5276 (stocked in supermarkets)
Facebook: Mike’s Beef Jerky
For more on Mike’s Beef Jerky, click here.
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