Young Butcher Wins National Award

The second annual competition saw entries from leading farm retailers across the UK; the contestants were Donny Cockburn from Kilinford Farm Shop, Matthew Lewis from Blacker Hall Farm Shop, Gareth Wood from Cheerbrook Food Ltd, Jason Moore from Newlyns Farm Shop, John Breteton from Ludlow Food Centre, Matthew Robins from Rhug Farm Shop and Alastair David from Darts Farm.

Each butcher had an hour to butcher a lamb carcass and produce a full shop window, while the judges (Holly Shackleton of Speciality Food, Steve Perrins of Taylors Farm Shop and Barry Deane, independent butchery consultant.

The 2016 Farm Butcher of the Year title was awarded to Gareth Wood from Cheerbrook Farm Shop, while Alastair David from Darts Farm and John Brereton from Ludlow Food Centre achieved Highly Commended awards.

Gareth Wood said, “I’m really proud to have won, especially considering how talented the other competitors were. My thanks go to Andrew Shufflebotham and Simon Roberts who have taught and guided me.”

Sarah Shufflebotham of Cheerbrook Food Ltd said, “We are extremely proud of Gareth, he started with us a Saturday boy when he was 14 and joined the Cheerbrook team full time when he left school. We’ve watched him develop into an excellent butcher and it’s lovely to see his hard work rewarded – a well-deserved award!”

Michael Mack of Savills, the managing agent for FARMA said, “This competition is designed to both celebrate the skills of the people behind the farm retail businesses and to provide those new to farm retailing with a chance to learn a few tricks from the trade.

“Farm shops spend a lot of time training and supporting their staff and to have a winner of the competition coming up through the business from a boy highlights what can be achieved by believing in your team.”

Michael Richardson of AHDB Beef and Lamb said, “The judges were particularly impressed with the butchery skills, product range and innovation shown by the winner. It is a time of great opportunity for independent butchers but new ideas to keep customers happy are essential to make the most of this opportunity. That’s what won it for Gareth.”

Image (L-R): Michael Richardson, AHDB Beef and Lamb; Milly Stokes, Chairman of FARMA; Gareth Wood, Cheerbrook Farm Shop