The history of the ANTOSIK meat processing plant is an incredible story which plays a big part in Poland's meat processing history as a whole. The roots of the Antosik company can be located in the 18th century, when our ancestors helped people to cross the river at Drzewica in the Old Opoczynski province. They built an inn were they home-made products for tired travelers.
Their knowledge of meat processing was passed down from generation to generation, from father to son, until it reached Mr Josef Antosik who had been a butcher in Drzewica sin 1930. When, in 1939, Drzewica was incorporated into Warthgau, the Antosik family had to evacuate to the General Government. Mr Antosik took his works to Lods, whe he worked for a few years until 1941, when, under the German occupation, he was sent to Auschwitz concentration camp and his son Zygmust was sent as forced labour to Germany. After the war, both father and son were reunited in the regained territories in Prochowice near Glogow, where a few years later they built a large shop and their products became well known in many parts of Poland.
With the 1950s came the time of reactionary fighting, which was identified by Josef Antosik and Zygmust (now in his twenties). Following the creation of the Central Butcher Industry, which received exclusiveness for purchasing livestock, Antosik's company encountered problems. Family businesses were made a part of the Local Cooperative, and Mr Antosik and his son were fired. After serving his honourable duty for his homeland he was informed that the Local Cooperative had no need to somebody like him!
Both father and son moved back to Drzewica, and from their on to Radom, where Zygmunt Antosik created his own butcher shop. In the 1960s, running a delicatessen required so much effort in regards to ongoing struggles with the Finance Department, that Zygmunt, having had his apartment searched numerous times, was finally arrested and placed in prison with no official court hearing or sentence.
In the 1970s, Zygmunt moved out to Dabrowa Gonicza. At the same time a large iron works was opening in Katowice, he was opening the "Antosik" meat processing plant. At this stage in his career, even the authorities, whose history with Zygmunt had always been strained, looked on his business with approval. Antosik would provide more meat to his customers than the rationing dictated, and would them buy off officials from the Finance Department with produce from the back room, to keep his business going - He understood that the official was just doing his job, and so fed him well. Despite repression, he never thought about leaving his profession. Zygmunt Antosik was one of the founding members of the Slask Guild of Butchers, whose banner is still a pride of the family. Up until his death, he ran his business in cooperation with his son Artur and aided by his daughter Ewa and other son Piotr. In 1996, Zygmunt Antosik was awarded with the Ja Kilinski gold medal, the highest award for Polish craft, and the "Antosik" company under the direction of Artur Antosik, received the "Company and Quality" award in 1997.
Another Antosik generation took over the family business. Modern business alongside constantly developing mechanical breakthroughs allow the continuation of the MISTRZ ANTOSIK brand, in honour of their ancestors.