12/06/2026
30 years of Vic’s
Some people build businesses. Others build lives.
Victor Puharich built both.
1am starts, cold rooms, sharp knives, hard work, and long days.
60 years of learning that there are no shortcuts. The kind of knowledge that can only be earned through a lifetime of doing.
Long before Vic's Meat existed, there was a young boy growing up in Makarska, Croatia. In a small village called Puharić.
A fourth-generation butcher. Victor helped his father, learning skills passed down through generations.
At 17, Victor boarded a ship bound for Australia. Alone.
Like so many migrants, he arrived with little more than a trade, a strong work ethic and a determination to build a better future.
He met his wife in Australia and together they built a family.
Nothing came easily. Victor worked multiple jobs, doing whatever was required to create opportunities for his children.
For 20 years he worked at Andrews Meat Industries.
Then came a leap of faith.
Together with his entrepreneurial son Anthony, he started a business built on
a simple belief: if you work hard enough, care enough and never compromise on
quality, anything is possible.
What followed was 30 years of growth beyond anything either could have imagined.
But success was never what defined Victor.
It was his work ethic. The pride he took in his craft. The respect he earned. And the example he set for everyone around him.
Victor became a mentor, a teacher and a trusted friend.
Generations of young butchers learned from him.
The respect Victor commands throughout the Australian meat industry is difficult to put into words. Spend five minutes with him and you understand why.
Humble. Generous. Honest. Hard working.
The kind of man people never forget.
Last year, after more than six decades in the trade, Victor officially retired.
At least on paper.
Every Saturday morning, you'll still find him at our Mascot outlet store, working alongside his eldest grandson, talking with customers and doing what he loves.
Being a butcher.
Some people spend a lifetime searching for their purpose. Victor found his early.
30 years. 30 moments.
