Scan Magazine | Special Theme | A Taste of Norway
A taste for organic produce The rise of organic food and beverages has been one of the apparent trends in the produce industry, with an increased focus on quality and wellbeing. ASK Gård is at the forefront in Norway as the leading producer of organic cured meats. What started in 2013 as a hobby has today grown into a big business for Anne Marte and Kristoffer Evang. Moreover, Kristoffer and his brother Andreas have taken the brand one step further – with their very own non-alcoholic drinks company ASK Brewhouse.
dients or additives. “The organic meat market has exploded. Even though we are continuously expanding our production capacity, we still have not managed to keep up with the demand,” he says.
By Ingrid Opstad | Photos: ASK
Focus on animal welfare
After noticing a lack of organic food available in the shops, in addition to a shared passionate interest in food, husband and wife Anne Marte and Kristoffer Evang decided that it was time to develop the Norwegian cured meats heritage.
premises on the farm, a state-of-theart sausage factory. Today, as a team of five people, all with a background in sausage making and cookery, we make up an amazing combination of technical and tasting knowledge,” says manager Kristoffer Evang.
“We work with the nose-to-tail principle, meaning that the whole animal has to be used. We pride ourselves on being sustainable; all our products are handmade, and only the best local ingredients are used. Everything is as healthy as possible, free from artificial additives and all organic,” says Evang, explaining that their focus is on the craftsmanship, raw materials and animal welfare. “It is extremely important for us that the animals live well. The fact that an animal will eventually become food does not mean it has to live a terrible life.”
“It all started small in a 22-squaremetre traditional storehouse. The following year, we were in our own newly built 220-square-metre production
With enormous growth over the last few years, Evang recognises a big gap in the market for good-quality, nutritious products without unnecessary ingre-
Beautifully located on the outskirts of the Nordmarka forest in Oslo with a view over Randsfjord, ASK Gård is a place where animals thrive, much due to its
Inspired by Italian craftsmanship, made by Norwegian raw materials
32 | Issue 109 | February 2018