Calum Sutherland takes the title

Calum Sutherland from West End New World has beaten more than 30 competitors nationwide to win the Alto Young Butcher of the Year.

A month of regional competitions culminated in a battle of the top five contestants in Auckland last night.

All the contestants were put through their paces with a 90 minute cutting test, an exam, interview and on-stage role-play session with MC Oscar Kightley playing the “customer”.

Sutherland says he is so proud to have won the competition.

“I’m ecstatic and looking forward to the doors this will open for my career,” says Sutherland.

The inaugural RMITO Butcher Apprentice of the Year final was also held last night with Damian Hanley from Hillcrest New World coming out top.

Hanley says the win has rendered him speechless.

“Eighteen months ago I was on the slaughterhouse floor and now I’m here. It’s unreal,” he says.

Sutherland won a study tour to Europe and Hanley will be travelling to Australia for a study tour.

The competition, run by Retail Meat New Zealand and sponsored by Alto, Retail Meat Industry Training Organisation, Beef + Lamb New Zealand, Dunninghams, Hellers, New Zealand Pork, Tegel Foods, Wilson Hellaby, Cabernet Foods and Kerry Ingredients, has been running for more than 20 years.

The evening celebrated both ends of the spectrum of experience with Sir Peter Leitch, KNZM, QSM becoming the inaugural winner of the Christie Award, an award for lifetime achievement in the meat industry.

Leitch says, “I knew Geof Christie well and to be the first recipient of an award in his honour is something truly special.”