Who got that job?

By LIANE VOISEY

Were you one of the 23 people who applied for this job and wondered who got it?

Job title: Divisional manager - meat, Progressive Enterprises

Allister Watson, 39, says butchering has had a bit of a bad rap lately. About to begin his new job at Progressive Enterprises, he believes the meat industry faces a real challenge in enticing young people to join.

Rather than the image of a trade that's "all blood and guts", they need to see that it's full of skill and opportunity, he says.

Butchering, says Watson, is a technical skill and about more than just cutting up meat. "It's about retailing and satisfying customer demand."

Watson has been working in the meat industry for 20 years, with companies such as Woolworths and Master Butchers Marlborough. He's worked in operations management, procurement management, and in a variety of general management duties. Most recently he was national procurement manager for Crean Foodservice, a food distribution company.

But he did not start off with any intention to work in the meat industry. After finishing school he started working for a food freighting works and "everything just developed from there". Soon after, he qualified with a diploma in meat technology from Massey University.

Watson believes his experience in the retail food industry will benefit the team at Progressive Enterprises, which looks after supermarket chains such as Foodtown, Countdown and Price Chopper.

He was attracted to the position because it offered the opportunity to get involved in changes in the retail meat industry, which he believes will be developing significantly over the next few years.

Another challenge, says Watson, is addressing the issue about the continuing decline of stock numbers.

"We need to encourage people to keep involved with farming and with meat wholesaling."