Carl Vogtherr commenced business at Stortford Lodge, Hastings, New Zealand in 1914. He opened the ‘Elite’ Bacon factory, petrol station, fruit cool store and ice factory. A delicatessen was opened in Heretaunga Street, near the Grand Hotel on the day World War 1 broke out on August 4, 1914. This business continued till November 1938. In 1937 Ernest Vogtherr ( son of Carl ) returned to Hastings in 1937 to establish the Hastings Bacon Company, in Karamu Road next the Public Trust Office.

The Holly bacon curing tradition was carried on to new premises in 1962, when Holly Bacon moved to its current location on the corner of St Aubyn Street East and Warren Street, Hastings, New Zealand. In 2015 this site was expanded and upgraded to meet rigorous food safety requirements.

Gordon Vogtherr joined his father (Ernest) in 1942 . 40 years later in 1982 Gordon’s daughter Claire Vogtherr joined the firm , which she now runs with husband Neil and their daughters Ellen and Lydia.

The Holly Bacon company produces Holly Dry Cured Bacon , delicious Sugar Cured Holly Ham for special occasions and a wide range of NZ Pork cuts for all occasions. Holly also specialise in producing a range of speciality dried and cured meats, prosciutto, smoked chicken , gammon , real pork sausages, pork cuts, pies and roasts,  that have all our clients returning for more.