Our Produce

Grass Fed Beef & Lamb

Grazed only on the most lush pastures of Tasmania, Victoria and Southern NSW, our beef and lamb have never been fed grain, ever! This is what farming should be—ruminant animals moving freely over pasture, enriching the soil and improving the overall health of the land. Our most significant suppliers are Cape Grim (beef), Bass Strait (beef), Southern Ranges (beef), Murray Pure (beef), Roaring Forties (lamb) and Lamb of Tasmania.

Free Range Chicken & Turkey

Running free from their sheds in secured environments by day, before choosing to return to their sheds at night. Our free range chickens and turkeys forage, play and lounge under free range conditions and love every minute of it. We stock Hazeledene's free range chicken from Bendigo and Deutscher's Turkeys from Dadswells Bridge near the Grampians, Victoria.

Free Range Pork

Award winning free range pork from Borrowdale - farmed near Meredith in Victoria, and Gooralie - farmed in Queensland's Darling Downs. These pigs have never once seen a sow stall or farrowing crate and are compassionately raised under strict APIQ guidelines. This gorgeous free range pork can be distinguished by its very healthy fat cover which is indicative of a healthy life in the outdoors. This is high welfare farming at its best.

Sustainable Seafood

Quality, freshness, locality and sustainability are key when we buy our seafood, which is why, when buying from Cannings, you can be certain you're buying an environmentally sustainable product. We only sell seafood that is rated GREEN (better choice) by the Australian Marine Conservation Society's GoodFish guide. The level of scrutiny and care within the GoodFish app is exactly what the planet needs if we want future generations to enjoy seafood. Red Coral seafood is our seafood supplier and we have been proudly working with them for over eight years now.

Cannings selection criteria

After more than two decades in the retail meat industry, we've learned that it's very important to leave no stone unturned. That's why we make the effort to visit our producer's farms and processing facilities. This scrutiny, this effort, this care, is what we can offer the world. That's why we have created two, very important documents on which we base all of our procurement. The Cannings Selection Criteria (CSC) and the Cannings Supplier Declaration (CSD). The CSC is a series of specifications around product quality requirements and specifications. The CSD is a document which ensures that our suppliers standards around animal welfare and environmental management completely align with our values.
  • Free range, grass fed beef and lamb that has never been feedlotted
  • Free range chicken and pork, never been confined to cages, pens or stalls
  • Sustainable Australian seafood classified as “Better Choice” by the AMCS
  • No added growth promoting hormones or non-therapeutic antibiotics
  • Suppliers certifications and standards have been provided to Cannings
  • Physical interventions and/or procedures disclosed to Cannings
  • Environmental management processes disclosed to Cannings
  • Animal stocking densities disclosed to Cannings
  • 100% alignment of values between Cannings and suppliers

Just like organic, our carefully selected free range producers raise their animals free from added hormones and non-therapeutic antibiotics. We are all about high welfare husbandry and clean, natural farming practices but we are NOT organic. That's a good thing though, because we are more affordable.

Just like organic

Free range means that for no period of time has the animal been confined to a cage, pen, stall, crate or feedlot. It means that they are free to express natural behaviour, in a natural environment. How could there be any other way?

Free range means

Did you know the majority of Australian beef is either grain supplemented or completely grain fed? This means time in a feedlot and the increased likelihood of prescribed growth hormones and antibiotics. This is not something that only happens in America. Feedlots are big business in Australia.

Did you know?

Responsible and regenerative farming practices are beneficial to the environment! Rotational grazing of livestock is integral to revitalising ecosystems as it enriches the soil with organic matter and increases its carbon-carrying capacity. Meat from grazing animals is also the most nutrient dense and complete food available to humans and is fundamental to the health of our species. These are such interesting topics and we implore you to research further. This book is a great place to start.

Free range for the planet

Frequently asked questions

Do you home deliver?

YES! We deliver to suburbs all over Melbourne from Tuesday - Saturday. We offer free delivery for orders $99 and over, with next day delivery for orders placed before 12 noon, depending on availability. To check your eligibility for delivery simply pop one or more items into your cast and proceed to the second screen of checkout to view your options.

Do you offer wholesale?

We currently provide wholesale to a limited number of like minded businesses who share our passion for free range, high welfare produce. Because of our rigorous selection standards, we can't compete on price when comparing to conventional produce, so we ask that you keep this in mind before submitting an enquiry. Our minimum order value for wholesale (after trade discount) is $250. This would also be the minimum for any delivery. If you are interested in sourcing free range, high welfare produce from Cannings for your business, please get in touch at info@canningsbutchers.com.auwith your expression of interest (please include the products you are interested in as well as quantity).

Do you offer Gift Cards?

Yes, we do offer gift cards! Our gift cards are available for purchase here and are valid for use in the online store only (not over the counter in-store). Customers can choose from home delivery or click and collect from any of our stores.

Are your meats GMO free?

It is common in Australia for commercial feeds to contain a mix of GMO and non-GMO ingredients without necessarily differentiating between them. For this reason, it is difficult to say with certainty whether species that receive a feed supplement as part of their diet such as pork and poultry are GMO free. Some producers use specific GMO free feeds, including our Ora King Salmon. Beef and lamb producers located in Tassie are also GMO free (as Tasmania is completely free from GMOs). Beef and lamb from other areas of Australia aren't guaranteed to be 100% GMO free, however most likely will not have any GMOs in their diet given that they are both grass fed and finished.

Are your meats slaughtered humanely?

Whenever I am asked this, I feel it's important to first raise the question; is there such a thing as "humane slaughter"? I figure, that in a world where there's definitely such a thing as "inhumane slaughter", then the way animals are slaughtered in the four main abattoirs we receive meat from, must surely be a true definition of humane slaughter. These facilities are very well equipped and designed to minimise animal stress, while guaranteeing a fast, stress free and professional kill. In slaughter, the fact of the matter is; the animal must be stunned (rendered unconscious), and must be bled to death. I wish there was another way to put it. It is important to know, that at the four abattoirs we buy from, the animals never see their fellow animals get slaughtered before themselves. There are double-doors etc. which prevents this. There are occasionally rogue cases of animal cruelty in abattoirs. And we can only hope that the individuals who commit these crimes are punished accordingly and that the companies who employ them deplore the actions and constantly raise the standard of professionalism.

At Cannings, we believe that CCTV should be mandatory in all stock yards, cattle races, stunning boxes and kill floors, in every Australian abattoir, and that the footage be independently audited/reviewed. Please write to the following people and demand action: Michael Coffey CEO of Primesafe info@primesafe.vic.gov.au and Hon. Gayle Tierney, MP Minister for Agriculture, Level 3, 121 Exhibition Street, Melbourne, VIC 3000

How far must the animals travel pre-slaughter?

Chicken: <1 hour. Processed on-farm (Bendigo)
Turkey: <1 hour. Processed on-farm (Pooginagoric)
Beef: Between 1 and 3 hours of travel. Cattle is transported from northern Tasmania to Smithton, Tasmania.
Lamb: Between 1 - 12 hours of travel. Depends on seasonality. For most of the year, lambs are raised in Tasmania and processed in Corio (Vic)
Pork: 6 hours. Rokewood (Vic) to Murray Bridge (SA)

What goes into your sausages?

I'm not sure where the uncertainty or distrust that circles around sausage fillings come from, but in all my years in the meat industry, I have only ever seen good meat go into sausages, so that's what I put into them today. Most of our sausages are made from boneless shoulder and belly meat. We also put a small amount of what we call "trim" in our snags. Trim is basically the small pieces of meat and fat that are cut off your favourite pieces, like rumps, porterhouse, chuck etc, in order for us to sell them. We trim these larger cuts to perfection, then the small pieces go into the sausages. It's good meat, but they don't represent a desired cut/portion. Once it's minced, it's awesome. A good sausage really comes down to how much fat it has, and we aim for 80% lean meat, 20% fat.

Do you donate to charity?

We support a handful of local schools and organisations, and a few of Australia's best animal welfare protection organisations. If your local organisation is in need of fundraising, please complete the Donations and Sponsorship form on our Contact page.

Do you stock any farmed fish?

Our Ora King Salmon and Spring Creek Barramundi are farmed because Cannings strives to source its seafood from only the most sustainability-minded suppliers in Australia and New Zealand. It's no secret that seafood is a dwindling resource so we only choose species and production methods approved by the Australian Marine Conservation Society's Sustainability Guide. We also think that Spring Creek and Ora King are what every fish farm should strive to be like.

How are the fish slaughtered?

Ora King Salmon is slaughtered using the ikejime method, where a spike is quickly inserted into the brain, causing immediate brain death. Spring Creek Barramundi and our wild caught seafood are slaughtered using the ice slurry method.

Can your meat be frozen?

The best way to freeze meat is to either vacuum seal prior to popping in the freezer, or to use a freezer or zip lock bag and squish all the air out of it around your meat. A tight seal will mean your meat is less likely to develop freezer burn. It can also be a good idea to freeze meat into your desired portion sizes (2 chicken breasts per bag, 500g of mince, etc.) so you can defrost as needed, rather than having to thaw a large quantity all at once. Make sure any meat you're freezing has not been in the fridge too long when you pop it in the freezer or it may spoil.

It is not recommended to re-freeze products that have been frozen and thawed previously, such as our prawns and calamari. Although products like ham, smoked turkey and shashliks with fresh veggies can be frozen, they generally do not thaw well and will likely not retain their taste and texture. When thawing, safely defrost in the fridge rather than on the bench. It's good to plan ahead if you're defrosting a larger roasting piece like chicken or turkey as these can take around 48 hours to thaw.

I have a delivery today, what time will it arrive?

Deliveries will arrive between 7am and 6pm. At 8pm the night before your delivery day, you will receive a text confirmation. This will include a tracking link and an ETA for delivery. On the day of delivery, you will receive a second text when the driver is close by, with an updated tracking link. A third text will be sent to let you know the delivery has been completed.

What is free range?

Free range means that for no period of time, have the animals been refused access to fully open air, and natural open pasture. The term also dictates certain stocking densitites which must not be breached. Free range is natural.

Do you stock Halal or Kosher meat?

No. We are not Halal or Kosher certified.

Do you offer store pickup (click and collect) as well as delivery through the online store?

No, we are no longer offering click and collect via the online store. Please give your local Cannings a call if you'd like items to be put aside for you.

Do you sell organic meat?

No! All of our produce is free range, with no added hormones or non-therapeutic antibiotics, but is not certified organic. Just because something is organic, doesn't guarantee the highest standard of animal welfare. Our priority is welfare, and clean, natural farming practices. Because we are NOT organic, we are much more affordable.

Do Cannings producers vaccinate their livestock with mRNA vaccines?

Cannings are yet to have a policy on whether or not we will be stocking produce from suppliers who choose to vaccinate their livestock against Foot and Mouth or Lumpy Skin diseases with the proposed mRNA vaccines. Based on declarations from our suppliers and producers, this procedure is not being rolled out yet. Cannings are staunch advocates for clean, healthy food that nourishes our body, mind and spirit and we will push back hard against these imposed measures until it can be proven that it is safe to eat meat from animals that have been administered these new vaccines. To date, there is no evidence to suggest that it's good, bad or indifferent but we will be keeping a very close eye on this space. You have our word that we will continue to search high and low for clean produce, while staying true to our core values around animal welfare.

*If you would like to be keep in the loop on this topic, please email sam [at] canningsbutchers [dot] com [dot] au