When you make your own speck, sell it well and even win awards for it, it makes you very proud,” says Thomas Schmid.
Schmid Gourmet LLC has its headquarters in Plaus near Naturns/Naturno, and is an artisan family company. For brothers Thomas and Joachim Schmid, quality and passion come first and foremost.
Thomas Schmid, a trained chef, initially had no intention of working in the family company. Today, however, he is delighted that he changed his mind. “When you make your own speck, sell it well and even win awards for it, it makes you very proud,” says the smiling 49 year old. Hanging on the wall behind him is the diploma that he received for the first comparative tasting of Speck Alto Adige.
“We are just one of many speck producers,” says Thomas, well aware that his company needs to produce the highest of quality at all times. “We distinguish ourselves from other companies in our traditional recipe and the experience that has been handed down to us over the generations.”
The brothers do not sell as many whole hams as they did in the past, but meet the growing request for vacuum-packed cuts of speck. “We do everything that our clients want,” smiles Thomas. He personally delivers their product to their clients in South Tyrol, to butcher’s and to the Pur Südtirol/ Pur Alto Adige gourmet market. ”Direct contact with customers is very important to me,” he says.
As one would expect, speck makes a regular dinner-table appearance for Thomas and his brother Joachim. “We are a family of butchers, so we eat a lot of meat,” he laughs. ”When you have friends, speck and a good glass of wine, an evening is always a special event,” adds Joachim.