Verkerks is a family-owned salami and smallgoods maker from Christchurch, founded by Aalt Verkerk, a Dutch-trained master butcher who arrived in New Zealand in 1952. The company says its salami is traditionally dry cured and aged, with a live culture added so the meat ferments and develops its flavour. Its address is 94 Vagues Road in Northcote.
The business is now a national brand and says it holds market leadership in salami and fermented products across New Zealand supermarket groups. It also serves the foodservice trade. Its range covers traditional European smallgoods, and its factory shop sells smallgoods, fresh meat and selected products at what the company describes as very competitive prices. The company is run by Mary-Anne, Aalt's daughter, as managing director, and the family remains involved in its product development and customer research. The business has a long history in the city, with an earlier retail shop on the corner of Armagh and Manchester streets that became a local landmark. Verkerks is a strong name for anyone wanting traditional salami made in Christchurch.