‘Get to know our butchers!’ County Foods celebrates National Butchers’ Week

As part of National Butchers’ Week, we’ve opened the factory doors to give a behind-the-scenes look into the world of butchery.

This annual event is one of the most popular in the butchery calendar and serves as the ideal opportunity for craft butchers from across the UK to raise awareness about the skills involved, and to find out about the delicious and high-quality meat available across the country.

Doron Krips, Managing Director at County Foods said, ‘Butchery is a vital part of what we do here at County Foods. It’s carried out on site by our skilled butchers, working at traditional butchers’ blocks.  Our butchers work hard to ensure that our customer’s requirements are met, and that the meat is butchered to an exceptional standard. We wanted to celebrate our incredible team, and let our customers get to know a bit more about them.’

County Foods Butchers Phil, Matt and Jamie had a chat about how they started out in the industry, what their job involves and the best cuts they’d recommend to customers.

Name: Jamie

Job title: Head Butcher

What path led you to become a butcher and why did you choose it as a career? I originally worked as a carpenter and on building sites, then started at County Foods as a cleaner 10 years ago. I quickly became interested in butchery, and wanted to learn a new skill and move forward in my career.

What do you like about the job? It’s really built my confidence, and I like teaching others about butchery skills.

What are the biggest challenges? Working in the cold and the early morning starts can be challenging.

Which is your favourite cut to prepare? I like breaking down pork joints.

Which product would you recommend that people try? Lamb cutlets.

What’s your favourite meal? A roasted bone-in lamb shoulder.

What’s your favourite movie of all time? The Fox and the Hound.

Name: Matt

Job title: Day Shift Supervisor

What path led you to become a butcher and why did you choose it as a career? When I was a teenager I watched a programme on farming and the butchering really interested me. I was going to do graphics at college, but when I was signing up I saw an advert for a trainee butcher on a jobs board so I became an Apprentice in a local butchers shop. I’ve now been butchering for 18 years, and have been at County Foods for 14 years.

What do you like about the job? I like the skill of the butchery and producing nice products from large joints of meat.

What are the biggest challenges? The early starts, and it can get really busy around Easter and BBQ season.

Which is your favourite cut to prepare? I like preparing all cuts of lamb.

Which product would you recommend that people try? Lamb shoulder chops.

What’s your favourite meal? A French trimmed rack of lamb, or spaghetti bolognese.

What’s your favourite movie of all time? The Fighter.

Name: Phil

Job: Day Shift Supervisor

What path led you to become a butcher and why did you choose it as a career? An opportunity came up after a previous job and I like new challenges! I’ve always liked working with food, and seeing where the food comes from and how it’s produced. I’ve now been in the food industry for 9 years, and at County Foods for 2 years.

What do you like about the job? The people, and I like the work as it’s enjoyable and challenging.

What are the biggest challenges? Maintaining the consistency of products throughout all the different shifts.

Which is your favourite cut to prepare? Rump.

Which product would you recommend that people try? Whole rump roasting joint.

What’s your favourite meal? Lamb cutlets.

What’s your favourite movie of all time? American Gangster.