Delicatessen Meat-Based Spreads “Neusatzer”, Worthy of World’s Best Restaurants, Coming from Novi Sad

(The Farmer’s Pate) “The Novi Sad Breakfast” was a meal that used to consist of a bread roll and a can of pate, which workers from Novi Sad in former Yugoslavia would bring along to the beach and by which they were recognized on their summer vacations. Based on this anecdote and the fact that he was educated in Germany, Marko Vasiljevic founded a company for the production of meat-based spreads called “Neusatzer”, which translates from German as “a citizen of Novi Sad, belonging to Novi Sad, of Novi Sad”.

– It’s something that has the ring of tradition, history, something local, while at the same time international, so that it could be presented in the foreign market one day – Marko Vasiljevic says for eKapija.

That he is on the right path is shown by the Gold Medal for quality at the Novi Sad Fair, as well as the 2023 Taste Award for the best product, handed out to the chicken parfait with apples and white wine. This is the first Neusatzer product and also the best-selling one.

– Our consumers, primarily ladies, like the sophisticated, fluffy structure, accompanied by light, sweetish aromas. It’s just a finely ground spread made from chicken liver, apples, white wine, butter, cream and spices, flavors which go very well with a glass of cold wine – our interviewee says.

They currently offer three main products, along with seasonal special products. Along with said chicken parfait, there’s also The Farmer’s Pate, “the real, gourmet, traditional kind” – pork liver, smoked bacon, mushrooms and cognac.

– The French pate is in its own category, favored by people who don’t eat liver, although the true traditional pate is made only from liver. It is a combination of meat and liver and it includes a shoulder of pork, chicken liver, butter, spices and cognac. Everyone can find a flavor that suits them – says Marko Vasiljevic.

From an idea about craft beer to meat-based delicatessen products

This entrepreneurship story began around 15 years ago in the university city of Heidelberg. Our interviewee, as a student, used his free time to travel and meet various cultures, their ways of life, but also their cuisines. Although his dream was to launch a craft brewery upon his return to Novi Sad in 2008, it didn’t come to pass.

As he adds, years went by, life led him this way and that, and after 10 years, he got tired of everything and was looking for a change. As his job entailed a lot of traveling and socializing, attending lunches, dinners and similar events, he came to the idea to launch a business within the food and beverage industry.

– That’s when I started thinking intensively about that topic and making a selection of what it could be, what was not present locally, what to make that most people would like. Then I remembered how, in small, family-owned restaurants, bistros and local meat markets in Germany and France, I had eaten local specialties made from meat and meat products, and above all, pates. I believe that there is no person who has never in their life eaten a piece of bread with some pate spread on it – our portal’s interviewee says.

(The chicken parfait)

“Only the best is good enough”

He contacted friends who lived abroad, got the samples, cookbooks, recipes, and got to work. As he says, with the best quality ingredients and fresh products, results are guaranteed.

– Only the best is good enough. Delicatessen meat-based spreads craft-made according to traditional recipes. No preservatives, artificial coloring, aromas, flavor enhancers and all the other things we avoid so that children could also enjoy them. They are suitable for pregnant women, athletes, people who have problems with diabetes or are allergic to gluten. Only the best ingredients, meat parts, spices, fresh herbal spices, vegetables, citrus fruits, wine, cognac and many other ingredients we use in our products can lead to natural aromas and variety – Vasiljevic says.

He emphasizes that the end product requires the production to last for several days, so that the delicatessen would be finished and so that all the aromas would mix well. The end product is packed into a glass jar, available to everybody, and the taste and the quality are worthy of the world’s best restaurants, our interviewee claims.
“Neusatzer” breaking prejudices about pate

– At the very beginning, we called our products meat-based delicatessen spreads, which they in fact are, and not pates. We wanted to avoid the prejudices about industrially produced pates and their content. When people read the list of ingredients on the declaration, they see all those quality ingredients and they realize what it’s all about. They say themselves that these are the tastiest, best pates they’ve ever eaten, so we have accepted them calling them pates without a problem.

We have organized countless tasting sessions, promotions, taken part in various festivals, events, fairs, and met with positive reactions everywhere. People are delighted and encourage us to continue, saying that we are on the right path etc. This is all confirmed by the numerous awards that we have won – says Marko Vasiljevic.
Potential for HoReCa sector and wineries

The retail network of these delicatessen products is slowly developing as well, and at the moment, they can be found in Belgrade and Novi Sad. They are available in delicatessen stores, specialized meat shops, wine shops, bistros and restaurants.

– Our aim is to expand the number of places where we are present to other cities and tourism centers as well. We will also work on increasing the number of facilities in the HoReCa sector, because I believe that we have something to offer. Our product will help them stand apart from the competition, they will get the required quality, save the time needed for preparation, in a word, they will get a prepared starter which they only need to serve.

Wineries are very interesting to us as partners, because a large majority of them organizes visits and tasting on the spot, and our pates go very well with all drinks, and especially wines. There is the possibility of agreeing certain series with them, which we would produce only for them, but that’s a topic for another conversation – says eKapija’s interviewee.
Customers returning to “neighbor shops”

The consumers are getting educated and turning to small producers and products made the traditional way, Vasiljevic says. They appreciate the effort and the work that small producers put in so as to offer a quality product to them.

– People like to help small producers, they are returning to “neighbor shops”, places where they can learn about the origin of the product, get advice, chat etc. That creates additional value and people have a sense of belonging, they remember the time when a product appeared, they follow its development, they help the product stay in the market.

To the industry, it is difficult and not cost effective to make small product series and to frequently change the recipes and other things, which gives an opportunity to craft producers. That’s where creativity and the quality of the ingredients come to the fore, and the customers like that.

Today, with this fast pace of life, the consumers want to treat themselves and get a quality product. When family and friends gather, in a relaxed atmosphere, socializing, there is a whole range of best quality products on the table. That brings people closer together, reminds them of their childhoods, of good and happy times. That is also the case in other industries, not just in the food industry. The price doesn’t play the key role at all, and when all things are taken into account, products made by small producers are not that expensive, considering their content and quality – our interviewee says.
– As for our plans, we have been in the market long enough to recognize in which direction we should continue. When it comes to that, we primarily want to get to know the customers better, to get them to recognize the quality and feel secure when it comes to the products we offer. We are trying to get as many secondary raw ingredients that we use from local producers and small family businesses and thereby at least make an effort to support other small producers and family businesses – says Vasiljevic.

He reveals that new flavors, on which they are working intensively, are planned, so that they would refresh their range of products and complement their offer with new flavors.

– To make a product, it’s not enough to just have a recipe. In addition to its quality, the product also has to be safe, to have a reasonable shelf life, to go through all the necessary laboratory analyses, to have the declaration etc. If we succeed in our plans regarding the procurement of additional equipment that would help us in the production process, one of the goals will be to be present in the market in the closest surroundings – concludes Marko Vasiljevic.

Aleksandra Kekic

NEUSATZER d.o.o. Novi Sad

Neusatzer

Marko Vasiljević

Heidelberg

Novi Sad Breakfast

production of meat based spreads

chicken parfait with apples and white wine

Farmers Pate

French pate