Pestells Rai Bacon Company is a family-run bacon and smallgoods maker at 22 McMahon Street in Stoke, Nelson. Christopher and Stephen Pestell, third-generation butchers, set the company up in 2001 after about twenty years in retail butchery. Bacon is what people mention most: streaky, middle and shoulder cuts, a preservative-free bacon, and a honey-cured, manuka-smoked ham. The hams are smoked over New Zealand manuka wood, and the Bee's Knees ham is a favourite on Christmas tables across the country. Customers also mention the gluten-free sausages and gourmet meat patties.
Customers praise the quality of the meat, the variety and the friendly staff. One said the bacon cooks without any water to drain off and crisps up well. Another said the family packs are good value for a week's meat. A customer who was served while the shop was busy said staff put together a product that had sold out on the shelf. The Stoke factory was built to meet demand from supermarkets, cafés and restaurants as well as shoppers, so its bacon is made in volume without losing the hand-cured style. Our pick in Stoke for smoked bacon and ham.