Butcher: wholesale

Wholesale butchers cut, store and pack meat. They do not usually have direct contact with members of the public; they provide supplies for retail butchers, supermarkets, hotels and restaurants.

Also known as:

Wholesale butcher

Work activities

A wholesale butcher bones, cuts and packs meat in bulk for sale to retail and catering butchers, restaurants, supermarkets, hospitals, schools and hotels, for example. This could include meat for export to overseas customers. Meat such as lamb, beef and pork is cut from a carcass into various sizes and then carefully stored in boxes and refrigerated or frozen until sold. Portions might need to be cut and weighed carefully to make sure they are exactly the right size for the customer. Wholesale butchers use equipment such as band saws (for cutting frozen meat) and sharp butchering knives. These have to be handled carefully to avoid accidents. A wholesale butcher is responsible for cleaning tools and working areas during the day. They must maintain hygienic working practices at all times. This includes washing their hands between each type of job. Meat is kept in cold stores before it is despatched. Butchers have to monitor the temperature of these cold stores and check that they are working correctly, to make sure that legal requirements are being met. Wholesale butchers wear protective clothing including overalls, hats and wellingtons at all times. They wear insulated clothing when working in cold stores.

Personal qualities and skills

As a wholesale butcher, you will need to be able to:

Maintain a high standard of personal hygiene.
Be comfortable handling raw meat, animal tissue and meat products.
Pay attention to detail; for example, if you are cutting portions of a certain size or weight over and over again.
Work in cold conditions.
Lift heavy boxes containing meat.

You should have:

A steady hand for handling cutting equipment.
Common sense and an awareness of safety procedures.
The stamina to spend a long time standing.

You should not suffer from any skin allergies.

Pay and opportunities

The pay rates given are approximate. Wholesale butchers earn in the range of £18,000, rising to £26,000 a year.

Wholesale butchers usually work a basic 43-45-hour week, with early starts and early finishes (around 5am to midday).

Employers are private wholesale meat companies. Wholesale butchers can also use their skills within other meat operations, for example, manufacturing butchers and meat-cutting factory work. Opportunities for wholesale butchers occur in some towns and cities throughout the UK.

Where are vacancies advertised?

Vacancies are advertised in local newspapers, on job boards and large employers’ websites, on the Government’s Find a Job service.

Entry routes and training

You can enter this career by applying directly for vacancies with wholesale meat companies. Alternatively you could begin an apprenticeship. There are two in this field:

Butcher (level 2 / intermediate)
Advanced butcher (level 3 / advanced)

You would normally train on-the-job or via work-based training. New entrants need to obtain food safety qualifications. This will be followed by food safety training in the workplace. Some large companies might offer the chance to work towards an award, certificate or diploma for proficiency in food manufacturing excellence, or for proficiency in meat and poultry industry skills. Some companies provide total in-house training; others provide the practical training while a college teaches the theory content.

Wholesale butchers can progress to team leader, supervisor and manager posts.

Qualifications

If you wish to enter this career through an apprenticeship, you will need GCSEs in English and maths, although you may be able to complete these alongside your programme.

Adult opportunities

Age limits: It is illegal for any organisation to set age limits for entry to employment, education or training, unless they can show there is a real need to have these limits.

Some entrants have developed relevant skills by working in food preparation.

Related careers

Butcher – retail
Chef/cook
Warehouse operative