Sizzle Steaks

Summary

Background 
Beak and Johnston (B&J) is a value adder which provides a combination of case-ready raw meat products and cooked products to food service and to supermarkets and is a major supplier to Woolworths. 
In 2009, B&J identified the opportunity for a novel red meat offering for the Australian consumer which cooks in less than one minute as a steak on a pan or grill and that “will stir fry as quickly as the vegetables.” In essence, the product is a thin sliced meat product, which any butcher can currently prepare given the time and a bacon slicer.
Research 
Via an MLA Donor Company project, MLA and B&J co-funded the development of a Thin Slice Technology (TST) Woolworths product 'Sizzle Steak'. This was a novel red meat silverside offering which cooks in less than one minute as a steak.
Significant technical issues related to tempering, moulding and high speed slicing and packing were overcome in production at large scale with uniform size and weight and maintained bloom during the shelf life required in supermarket distribution.
Outcomes
The project delivered the following benefits.Increased value to beef industry = $9.25 million (approx) – ($6.50 per kg is a weighted average between trim price, corned silversides and export trim pricing that could be expected for the product).Sales of this product were targeted to be1,500 tonnes per annum through one retailer with projected sales for on target.
The Sizzle Steak project has been deemed a great success for all concerned.