Pork company barrels its rivals

By Ivy Wise
August 24 2009
Riverine Herald
A Bunnaloo gourmet pork smallgoods business has beaten 130 businesses throughout NSW to win the Small Business Marketing Makeover competition.
Pacdon of Bunnaloo was one of two businesses who are members of the Small Business Network to receive $15,000 to go towards a marketing and promotion campaign.
Managing director James Arrowsmith said he was thrilled with the win.
“I was a bit shocked, but it’s absolutely fantastic,” James said.
The awards promoted interesting and exciting small businesses, he said.
“The money will go towards finding the best markets to sell our produce,” he said.
“It’s fantastic that we got it.”
Founded in September last year, Pacdon of Bunnaloo specialises in traditional British pork pies and also makes gala pies, gourmet pork sausage, Wiltshire cure bacon and gammon and traditional black pudding, in a specially built on-farm factory.
The authentic age-old recipes come from British-trained in-house chef Pete Tonge, while the business office is handled by Rob Melling.
James emigrated to the district to work at Camboon Pig Farm, owned by a family friend.
He originally came to Australia as an 18-year-old in a gap year after finishing secondary school and was meant to spend only two weeks at the farm, but ended up living and working for six months.
He returned to England to complete a business and communication degree, before returning to start the business.
“Our aim is to the best producer of British smallgoods in Australia,” James said.
“British food was never all that popular, but now, with chefs like Jamie Oliver and Gordon Ramsay, we are going through a culinary revolution,” he said.
Pacdon of Bunnaloo sells its products to district restaurants and at Echuca Farmers’ Market, where it has a strong following, as well as the monthly farmers’ markets in Bundoora, Mulgrave, Heathmont, Croydon and Yarraville.
James will receive the award at a presentation in Sydney on September 1.