In the spirit of Women’s Month, the fact that 13 women have joined the global club of certified Master Butchers as part of the group of 62 butchery masters and trainers who graduated from the Shoprite Group’s Master Meat Artisan Programme is being celebrated.
Of these women who have joined this male-dominated industry, two are from the Free State: Lydia Thithi and Jeanetta Niemand. They are from Welkom and Bloemfontein, respectively.
To qualify, butchers are required to build a substantial portfolio of evidence that includes modules on butchery expertise, food hygiene and safety, and business acumen, among others.
Thithi worked in clothing retail for two years before joining Shoprite Boitumelo Junction in 2011 as a general assistant through the group’s Meat Market learnership programme. She held various positions before being promoted to Meat Market Manager.
“My favourite aspect of the programme was learning about agriculture and the journey that meat takes from farm to table,” said Thithi.
“I aspire to become better in business by bringing new and improved ideas for the growth of the butchery, and continuing to improve my skills as a manager.”
Niemand worked as a counter assistant 17 years ago, and had been inspired watching the blockman cutting up meat with precision.
“When I started with the Master Meat Artisan Programme, I thought I knew everything about meat. I soon found out that there were things I did not know,” said Niemand.
“The programme taught me about grading different cuts of meat and the finer details on how to make the butchery profitable. I can’t wait to share my expertise with customers,”
She has been working in the meat industry ever since, joining Checkers Langenhoven Park as Meat Market Manager in 2021.
The group is anticipating enrolling approximately 150 more butchery managers over the next five years.“This programme requires ten years’ experience, with at least five as a Meat Market manager to enroll. It reflects our commitment to supporting our butchers on their long-term vocational journeys, equipping them with the necessary tools and knowledge to excel in the profession,” said Johan Hunter, general manager of the Group’s Meat Markets. The group is the only one on the continent to provide this elite and highly specialised butchery learning programme, underwritten by the United Kingdom’s Institute of Meat, that provides extensive knowledge in meat processing practices from farm to fork.
