SOUTH ISLAND BUTCHERS ON THEIR WAY TO GRAND FINAL COMPETITION

L to R: Head Judge Peter Martin with winners Jeremy Garth, Sam Chapman, Isaac Webster and Lily Manson

Four South Island butchers have carved themselves a path to the grand final of the 2023 Pact Packaging Young Butcher and ANZCO Foods Butcher Apprentice of the Year competition.

The competitions, held in Dunedin and Christchurch over the weekend, saw butchers from around the South Island sharpen their knives and cut their way through a two-hour cutting test to earn a place at the final.

In Christchurch, Jeremy Garth from Corey’s Master Butchers placed first in the Pact Packaging Young Butcher category, and Sam Chapman from New World Prestons claimed first spot in the ANZCO Foods Butcher Apprentice category.

Garth says “I’m very happy, and surprised I won – the standard of competition I was up against was high. I think my experience and presentation may have me apart from the other competitors but there is always room for improvement, and I’ll be focusing on perfecting the finer details in preparation for the grand final in August.’’

Chapman, who is a third-year apprentice says of her win “I’m absolutely stoked that I can do it two years in a row and show that ladies can do it!”

Also heading to the grand final from Dunedin is Pact Packaging Young Butcher category winner Isaac Webster of Links Quality Meats and ANZCO Foods Butcher Apprentice Lily Manson of FreshChoice Cromwell.

The competitions were part of a national series being held around the country to find New Zealand’s top butchers to compete in a grand final showdown in August.  Contestants put their butchery skills to the test by boning, trimming, slicing and dicing their way through a two-hour competition. They were tasked with breaking down a size 20 chicken, a full pork loin, a lamb leg, and a prime steer d-rump into a display of value-added products while being closely watched and scrutinised by judges. 

Head Judge Peter Martin who is the Butchery Training Advisor at Skills4Work in Auckland, says that he continues to see year on year, a very high standard of work coming from the butchery trade which makes for an exciting and competitive competition.

“It’s great to be underway with the regionals, and already in these competitions I’ve had very experienced industry representative say to me that is the best standard they have seen in their life".

Alongside industry and peer recognition, the Pact Packaging Young Butcher of the Year and the ANZCO Foods Butcher Apprentice of the Year will receive a coveted trophy and an all-expenses paid trip to the next World Butchers’ Challenge in 2025 with the opportunity to represent New Zealand in the ANZCO Foods Young Butchers of New Zealand team.

The competition is proudly sponsored by Pact Packaging, ANZCO Foods, Dunninghams, Hellers, Beef + Lamb New Zealand, Skills4Work, Tegel, Victory Knives, Wilson Hellaby, Anago, Rum and Que and Newly Weds.