Fresh, top-quality meat delivered to your door? Now you can, thanks to Discovermeat.be. Order various types of high-quality meat through the webshop, and it can be on your plate the next day.
The story behind Discover Meat starts at Distri Carne, the company of Louis Vervisch.
After training as a butcher at Ter Groene Poorte in Bruges, I worked at a few butcher shops before joining Distri Carne. After gaining experience for a few years and getting to grips with the ins and outs of the business, I was given the opportunity to take over the company in 2012. And why not? Distri Carne has been around since 1988 and has been serving the finest quality meat from Belgium and abroad for just as long.
So, more than thirty years already?
"That was pioneering work back then. Now, Irish ribeye and other top-quality cuts are almost standard on the menu, but that wasn't the case back then. Almost 95 percent of our clientele are restaurants and caterers, only a small portion are private individuals.
The latter group is growing and we want to respond to that with a separate brand name and our own webshop."
And that's how the idea came about to launch the webshop Discovermeat.be?
"Indeed, I was often asked by people if they could buy meat in small portions. With the webshop, we want to open up our range to them as well.
On the one hand, the figures show that Belgians are eating less meat year after year, while on the other, we're seeing a clear increase in demand for slightly more exclusive, higher-quality meats. In other words, we're eating less but better meat.
The best of the best?
"We do indeed offer our top products. We initially selected 15 products. We want to gradually expand this and always offer something new. Ultimately, we want to offer a wide range of pork, lamb, veal, beef, poultry, and charcuterie. We also ensure a tailored offering for the customer. We will listen to their wishes. Finally, we also work seasonally. For example, pheasant and venison in the game season, and lamb in the spring."
Iberico meat from the Beher pig farm is also on the list?
Beher is a global company that produces and sells exclusively Iberian pork internationally. The entire breeding process, from fertilization to the final product, is completely controlled by the company, resulting in flavorful and tender meat that you won't find anywhere else. The company has won numerous awards at Europe's largest meat fair in Frankfurt. Distri Carne is the sole distributor of BEHER in the Benelux and We are very proud of that."
How exactly is the other meat selected and processed?
"Since the beginning of Distri Carne, we've been working with top-tier slaughterhouses that process only the finest meat. This meat comes to us in cuts, essentially large pieces. Every day, we're busy cutting meat to the customer's specifications—a true craft."
Does that make you stand out from others?
"That really makes a big difference compared to what you can find in the supermarkets. A piece of meat here isn't just any piece of meat. We only work with the best quality. You pay a little more for that. Compare it to a car. Ultimately, it's a box with four wheels – but you pay more for a Mercedes than for a Renault.
Ultimately, it's always a matter of trust. We have a relationship of trust with our suppliers, and we also create that bond with our customers. Originally, primarily restaurants and caterers, but now also private individuals.
How exactly does it work, ordering meat from a webshop?
The principle is simple. The customer selects the meat and the quantity they want. The meat is vacuum-packed with the necessary care, in accordance with the strict regulations of the Federal Agency for the Safety of the Food Chain (FASFC) – which are ten times stricter for wholesalers than for butchers. It can be delivered to the customer the next day. They can prepare it immediately or store it for another 10 days in the refrigerator (at a maximum temperature of 6°C). It will keep for up to 6 months in the freezer.
Doesn't that mean competition for Distri Carne's customers, the restaurants?
Cooking for guests at home and dining out are two different experiences. Restaurant guests aren't just there for the food, but also for the beautiful setting, the service, the convenience of not having to wash dishes, and the selection of complementary wines. In short, for the complete dining experience. Stirring the pots at home or barbecuing for family and friends is a different experience.
