Winning Streak Continues For Two Waikato Butchers
Butchers from across the central North Island looked sharp and set about cutting their way through a two-hour competition in the regional stages of the 2021 Pact Packaging Young Butcher and ANZCO Foods Butcher Apprentice of the Year competition.
Brad Gillespie from New World Rototuna placed first in the Pact Packaging Young Butcher of the Year category and James Beattie from PAK'n'SAVE Te Awamutu, claimed first spot in the ANZCO Foods Butcher Apprentice of the Year category. Both butchers also won their respective categories last year, and will once again represent the Waikato at the grand final.
Last week’s regional competition was the first in a national series to find New Zealand’s top butchers to compete in a grand final showdown in August. The central North Island contestants put their boning, trimming, slicing and dicing skills to the test as they broke down a size 20 chicken, a whole pork leg, and a beef short loin into a display of value-added products.
Brad Gillespie says he is stoked with his win and stuck to a plan which he feels he executed to perfection.
“I was happy with the judges’ comments and feel confident heading to the grand final,” says Brad. “I will keep practicing to get my speed up in readiness to compete against the other finalists."
Twenty-nine-year-old Brad is a born and bred Hamiltonian and loves his career as a butcher.
"My strength as a butcher is my passion for the industry and getting out and showing what butchers are all about and encouraging the younger ones to get involved.”
“It's a massive step to enter competitions and cut meat in front of judges, but it grows your confidence which has a great knock-on effect in your workplace,” says Brad.
James Beattie, also twenty-nine, is in the final year of his apprenticeship and is over the moon with his win.
"I am delighted to have two wins in a row. I made a point of taking on the comments from the judges at the grand final last year and incorporating those into my plan this year,” says James.
"I also have great support from my butchery manager who encourages me to experiment with different ideas and flavour profiles which helped enormously,” he says.
Brad and James will now continue on to the grand final, on Thursday 5th August at the ASB Showgrounds in Auckland, where they will further showcase their cutting skills, creativity and knowledge of the trade against the best in the country.
Head Judge Peter Martin who is the Butchery Training Advisor at Skills4Work in Auckland, is really looking forward to this year’s competition.
“I am a strong advocate for these competitions and the best part as a judge is seeing the opportunities for young people in our trade to showcase their skills at competition level,” says Peter.
Last year with Covid there were restrictions on viewing the competition, and Peter thinks it will be really exciting this year to welcome back spectators to watch the competition close up.
“I know competitors will be delighted to showcase their skills in front of their peers, families and friends - it’s going to be an exciting atmosphere at the final this year,” he says.
Peter also hopes the young butchers and apprentices will take advantage of the mentoring programme on offer again this year.
“The mentoring programme was such a success last year, whether it was just talking through ideas and timings or talking about the pressure of being watched - any advice is welcome and will benefit each competitor,” says Peter.
Alongside industry and peer recognition, the winning Pact Packaging Young Butcher receives a coveted trophy plus the choice of either an all-expenses-paid butchery study tour or a $4,000 cash prize. The ANZCO Foods Butcher Apprentice of the Year also receives a coveted trophy plus the choice of either an all-expenses-paid butchery study tour or a $3,000 cash prize. The butchery store they work for also receives a $1,000 cash prize.
The competition is proudly sponsored by Pact Packaging, ANZCO Foods, Beef + Lamb New Zealand, Competenz, Dunninghams, Hellers, Tegel, Wilson Hellaby, Victorinox, Cabernet Foods and NZ Pork.
FULL DETAILS FOR ALL REGIONALS ARE AS FOLLOWS:
Waikato/Central North Island
17th June 2021
PAK’nSAVE, Mill Street, Hamilton
Upper North Island
26th & 27th June 2021
Skills4Work, Manukau, Auckland
Lower North Island
2nd July 2021
WelTec School of Hospitality, 52 Cuba Street, Wellington
Lower South Island
9th July 2021
New World Centre City, 133 Great King Street, Dunedin
Upper South Island
10th July 2021
Ara Institute of Canterbury, School of Food and Hospitality, Cnr Ferry Rd & Madras St, Christchurch
Grand Final
5th August 2021
ASB Showgrounds, Auckland
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For more information, please contact:
Lisa Moloney, Retail Meat New Zealand
lisa@rmnz.co.nz / 027 632 1644
Michelle Hopson, Event Manager – Retail Meat New Zealand
michelle@rmnz.co.nz / 021 154 8019
#nztopbutcher
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
The Pact Packaging Young Butcher and ANZCO Foods Butcher Apprentice of the Year is a prestigious event well regarded by the retail meat trade with the titles highly sought after. The competition has been running for over two decades and begins with five regional competitions where entrants showcase their knife skills during a practical cutting test. The Pact Packaging Young Butcher category of the competition is open to fully qualified butchers aged 35 years and under, those who are currently completing an apprenticeship fall under the ANZCO Foods Butcher Apprentice category.
The regional cutting test is two hours long and involves breaking down and displaying different cuts of meat. This year, the chosen cuts are a size 20 chicken, a whole pork leg, and a beef short loin. The entrants are required to produce some compulsory cuts as well as utilising the remaining meat to demonstrate their creativity by value-adding.
At the grand final the Pact Packaging Young Butchers and ANZCO Foods Butcher Apprentices will tackle the same cuts as they did at the regionals, but will have free reign to create what they wish with no compulsory cuts. The ANZCO Foods Butcher Apprentice competitors also have the addition of an interview and multiple-choice exam.
There will be six finalists in each category at the grand final. The first five will be the winners from each of the regionals. The remaining finalists will be taken from the overall top marks across the nation.