Woodburn Venison first to get the big tick from the Heart Foundation

New Zealanders can now be sure they’re enjoying top quality and healthy venison small goods.

Hawke’s Bay venison company Woodburn Venison has become the first venison supplier in the country to be given the Heart Foundation’s Heart Tick for its venison meatballs and burger patties.

Products with the Heart Tick are independently tested to meet stringent standards designed to help people choose a more balanced and nutritious diet. The Heart Tick helps to identify food with reduced levels of ‘bad’ fats and less salt. Many, like Woodburn Venison’s meatballs and burger patties, also have fewer kilojoules and increased levels of dietary fibre and calcium.
Woodburn Venison Managing Director, Sally Haslett says it has taken more than 18 months for the company to get the Heart Tick.

“There have been countless hours of market research and product testing to ensure we have our meatballs and patties just right to meet the Heart Foundation’s stringent specifications, while still retaining their delicious flavour.” says Sally.
She says extensive research has found Woodburn Venison meatballs and burger patties have one of the higher protein contents of pure venison of any on the market. The research also highlights the extremely low saturated fat and sodium levels in the products ensuring not only great flavour but excellent health benefits, such as being very low in cholesterol.
With obesity and high cholesterol major health issues in New Zealand, Sally is delighted Woodburn Venison can now proudly display the Heart Tick on its icon products.
Recent research commissioned by the Heart Foundation Tick Programme shows the Heart Tick is embedded in the New Zealand grocery shopping ritual, with the majority of shoppers using the Heart Tick to help them choose healthier food.

Heart Tick Programme Manager Ian Mathieson says the strong consumer confidence in the Heart Tick means it is a powerful tool in the fight against obesity, and is helping to shape up New Zealanders.

“Many of us really want to eat healthier food but with our busy lifestyles we simply don’t have the time to study and understand the nutrition information on the labels. The Tick takes the guesswork out of what to buy. All you have to do is look for the Tick symbol on the pack and you know you have made a healthier choice in that food category,” said Mr. Mathieson.

Sally Haslett from Woodburn Venison agrees. She says venison patties and meatballs provide variety in people’s diets and at the same time gives them a healthy choice.

“Our vision has always been to provide a healthy choice to the New Zealand consumer with fresh, chilled and processed venison. The Heart Tick for our meatballs and patties reinforces what a fantastic product we offer,” says Sally.

Woodburn Venison has received strong support from Deer Industry New Zealand, which was keen to see Woodburn become the first New Zealand venison supplier to achieve the Heart Tick.

Venison is a nutrient dense food and an excellent source of protein and iron and is high in essential nutrients like Vitamin B12 and zinc. Venison is a very low fat food and can be used in a huge variety of ways. As well as the meatballs and burger patties, Woodburn Venison produces a variety of chilled cuts from its Hawke’s Bay processing facility as well as a range of deli products including sausages. They are available in selected supermarkets and specialty stores throughout the country, explains Sally Haslett.
“This is just the beginning for us. We know what a great product venison is and in the future I would like to see all of our products displaying the Heart Tick.”
Prepared by No 9 Marketing & Design for Woodburn Venison