Growing demand for meat

Press, 28 November 1989, Page 27

Growing demand for meat

Demand in the butchery area at Countdown Northlands is such that the new section will have a staff of 16 and a display case area of about 30 metres, one of the largest in the South Island. “Today’s shopper is a much more discerning person and they are often looking for that something extra for their meals,” says the butchery manager, Dave Wallace. Mr Wallace is one of the most experienced people in the butchery trade in Christchurch. With a butchery background from the United Kingdom and Australia, he has been with Countdown since 1981 and been

responsible for establishing the butchery units in all Countdown locations. He has just returned from the World Trade Fair in Frankfurt, Germany, and brought back with him the latest ideas and technology in the way of meat packaging. “As well as the usual meat cuts we will have a large display of chicken including chilli chicken, kebabs, breast meat, marinated chicken plus all the regular meats,” he says. The emphasis on convenience foods is also present in both the lamb and beef areas with Chinese specialties and several seasoned, stuffed and

coated lines, plus a wide range of different-flav-oured sausages. All the carcase meat is broken down at Countdown Northlands with up to 1000 lamb carcases being broken down during a busy week, not to mention the beef, mutton and pork lines. “In recent months we have noticed a swing back to red meat, which indicates customer acceptance of the range of meats we are providing.” Countdown will also be stocking a full range of Christmas hams which will be available in the store from the start of December.