About Us

Hunters Gold Custom Meats was established in 2003 by Adrian and Catherine VanZyl. Catherine's father, Charles Shook, frequently went on hunting trips to South Africa, and she first joined him at the age of 9. It was during one of these trips at age 28 that she met Adrian, who had been working in the meat industry since 1986 after finishing his service in the South African Defense Force. After relocating to the U.S. in 1998, Adrian took on the position as Meat Market Manager for Winn-Dixie Stores, while Catherine completed her BS degree in education from Mississippi University for Women, eventually securing her first teaching positions in North Carolina then they moved to Florida. They later returned to Millport, Alabama, where Adrian handcrafted his first cooler and started processing deer for local hunters while balancing his day job. Catherine taught high school science at New Hope High and Lee Middle School during the day, assisting her husband in the meat shop at night and weekends. Over the past 21 years they grew their business and launched Hunters Custom Meats in 2022, providing a diverse range of meats, including their renowned Smoked Sweet Heat Sausage, which has gained a loyal following. Adrian’s commitment to his craft shines through in his custom spice room, where he develops unique blends that distinguish their products, keeping his recipes and spices closely guarded. They are also a Category four processor with the Alabama Department of Health and inspected every three months.