The Sharp Blacks team has been selected for the World Butchers’ Challenge, and three Foodstuffs butchers have made the cut for the seven-person team.
Heading to California in 2020 with the rest of the team is:
Jeremy Garth, the New World Ferry Road butcher manager, who was part of the team this year at the biennial event in Belfast. He’ll be a product developer in the team, which involves turning boned carcasses into retail cuts.
James Smith, the PAK’nSAVE Pukekohe butchery manager, who was recently named upper North Island butcher of the year. He’ll be working on garnishing and display for the team.
Luka Young, the New World Eastridge butchery manager, placed third in this year’s World Champion Young Butcher contest. He’ll be a reserve for the team.
The Sharp Blacks are one of sixteen teams that will compete at the WBC, also known as the ‘Olympics of Butchery’, which are to be held in Sacramento, California, in September 2020. The team will be tasked with turning a side of beef, a side of pork, a whole lamb, and five chickens into visually impactful, value-added products.
Foodstuffs managing director Steve Anderson has said that having three of the company’s butchers on the national team is a testament to Foodstuffs’ butcheries. “Because our stores are locally-owned and operated their butchery teams are run by locals too,” said Anderson. “That not only makes our butcheries more responsive to local shoppers’ tastes, but also more attractive to the best local talent – the proof of which can be seen here.”
