Enjoying Margra Lamb in first class on a Qantas flight.

AUSTRALIAN lamb brand Margra has extended its reach onto the Qantas business flight menu less than a year after first appearing in the airline’s passenger food offering.

Through a distribution partnership with Haverick Meats, Margra has been on the Qantas first class menu since March 2023, and as a result of the strong working collaboration with the airline in developing new dishes, it will now also feature on the business menu.

Margra Lamb will feature in new dishes designed by Qantas creative director of food, beverage and service, Neil Perry.

Australian White co-founder Graham Gilmore, who spent years with his late brother Martin on the family property at Oberon, NSW, selecting the breed’s genetics said Margra Lamb’s special qualities would shine under the care and preparation of the Qantas chefs.

“Margra Lamb was designed specifically for chefs.

“It has a micro-marbled finish and low-fat melting point of just 28-35°C, which results in an unprecedented delicate meat that is incredibly succulent,” Mr Gilmore said.

“It’s taken a lot of hard work and research to get to this point, but we always had a firm belief that Australian sheep breeding techniques, genetic selection technologies and meat science could come together to deliver something special to consumers around the world.

“It is incredibly rewarding to know our passion for high-quality Australian lamb has been recognised by such a nationally iconic brand such as Qantas, and to be able to work together with the Qantas team in showcasing our amazing country and our produce to the world.”

Australian White sheep with their Kelpie minder at Oberon in NSW.

Qantas head chef Neil Perry said the partnership with Margra Lamb was the perfect match of iconically Australian ingenuity and dedication to excellence.

“Every day around the world, Qantas celebrates the spirit of Australia and Margra Lamb embodies that through its origin in the bush, the innovation and perseverance shown by the Gilmore family, and their commitment to outstanding quality,” Mr Perry said.

“In preparing a recipe to do that flavour justice, and to further celebrate its Aussie identity on the Qantas menu, we have paired Margra with a select combination of herbs including native Australian saltbush.”

Through the long-standing partnership with Haverick Meats, Margra lamb has also featured on some of the finest menus around the country, including Woodcut in Sydney, Society in Melbourne and Walter’s in Brisbane, and the Qantas and Margra collaboration times well with Margra Lamb’s global growth aspirations.

Margra Lamb director and co-founder, Tim Leahy, believes the opportunities for Margra Lamb are immense; locally and globally.

“Having Margra Lamb featured across multiple menus in Qantas’ in-flight dining program is a milestone we’re immensely proud of.

“It’s a testament to the quality of our product and a significant step in showcasing Australia’s world-class produce to global audiences,” he said.

“Globally, chefs and consumers are seeking premium produce that combines exceptional quality, a compelling origin story, and a commitment to sustainability and eating experience—and Margra Lamb delivers on all fronts.”

“We’re excited by the strides we’ve made in key markets like the USA, Singapore, and across South East Asia.

“These markets represent significant opportunities to showcase Margra Lamb as a premium, first-class product.”

The Margra Lamb Qantas menu options are:

First class, Sydney to Los Angeles, Sydney to Singapore and Sydney to Johannesburg: Saltbush crusted Margra lamb cutlets with buttermilk parsnip puree, beetroot slaw and chervil.

Business class: Braised Margra lamb shoulder with rosemary potatoes, honey glazed carrots and crushed minted peas