SA Chapter HALL OF FAME

Web: www.maggiebeer.com.au

The story of Maggie Beer Products Pty Ltd really begins with a Churchill Fellowship for Colin Beer to study game bird breeding in Europe and America in 1978. This gave Maggie and Colin the impetus to open a farm shop in 1979 selling direct to the public, and then the Pheasant Farm Restaurant as a showcase for their product.

By 1983, the initial enterprise blossomed into food production with the restaurant's signature dish – Pheasant Farm Pâté. The restaurant won a string of awards culminating in the industry's highest award in 1991. Along the way, Maggie produced Verjuice and took it to commercial production and a global culinary trend – a world first.

It was Maggie's wish to expand the food production and pursue export markets. So in 1996, an export accredited kitchen was built to commercially produce the pâté range. Maggie Beer Products Pty Ltd was born.

From the beginning, they faced the usual problems of finance and product expansion. Perhaps the greatest challenge for Maggie was the need to find and work with like minded third party suppliers who understood her exacting cooking ethos – fresh produce, no preservatives, premium quality ingredients and being driven by flavour.

In 2001, the company broke into Supermarkets Australia-wide. Pheasant Farm Pâté is now available in just under 2000 retail outlets across Australia. International coups representing South Australia include preparation of food for the 200th Anniversary of Baudin Exhibition, Paris in 2001; feeding 700 guests the Ambassador's Cherry Blossom Festival, Tokyo in 2003; followed by 300 people for Australia Day celebrations at Australia House, London in 2006; and the Tourism SA Challenge of South Australia against California at Alisal in 2007.

A rare first generation entrant to the Hall of Fame, the family business has the future in mind with daughter, Saskia, to assume a role on the Board in the next couple of years as custodian of the brand.

Maggie Beer has become a household name in Australia and is a remarkable example of first generation family business in South Australia.

Maggie Beer was inducted into the FBA(SA) Hall of Fame in 2008.