#SheLooksLikeMe: Kayla - Kiwi Butcher Shop
What does your job entail?
Since the start of lockdown 2020, my job has predominately involved completing online orders. A typical week usually involves working on the wholesale side of the business (Fish & Chips Shops, Restaurants, Takeaway Outlets, Bakeries, Catering Companies, Hotels, Resthomes, and Schools) printing, processing, and packing online shop orders.
I can be found out the back-breaking down carcasses to be used for our retail or wholesale customers. Or assisting in the retail shop. If customers come in with a request, I am happy to accommodate their meat desires.
One of my special talents is processing The Kiwi Butcher traditional Middle Eye Bacon, and Award-winning (2018 NZ Pork, Bacon and Ham award- Bronze) Middle Bacon & Dry Cure Streaky Bacon. In the last year I have been developing new bacon flavors eg; Apple & Cinnamon dry cure streaky and Cayenne Pepper dry cure streaky.
What attracted you to this industry?
Unknown to me, My Dad’s Father was a Butcher who use to work in Sydney Australia and my Father was also a cleaner in a Butcher shop when he was young.
I started working at The Kiwi Butcher Shop as an after-school cleaner, then progressed to working in the shop customer service which then led me to a Full-time meat packing position. After approximately 3 years, I left and went farming for a year, then returned to my previous position of meatpacking and helping wherever necessary which led to being offered a Butchery apprenticeship. Nine and a half years after starting as a cleaner, I’ve progressed my way through the business and I am gratefully happy to say I am a qualified female butcher and working toward management.
What have been some of the challenges you’ve faced and overcome in your career?
The biggest challenge for me is, being a female in a predominately male industry due to my size & height (5ft), most customers would expect a male to assist.
Why are women in the meat sector so important?
Women have tidy presentation skills and generally display meat to a standard that they will purchase if they see it on the shelves. It’s good to have a mix of both males and females in the meat sector as both genders have their different strengths and ideas.
What is your advice to the industry to encourage more women?
This workforce is aging, and more butchers are needed to replace those retiring. All jobs in the meat industry are suitable to all women and men, however it’s generally early morning starts and long working hours and this could be a disadvantage to some. The industry needs to promote apprenticeships and businesses need to take on apprentices to allow the senior staff to perform more profitable tasks whilst allowing the industry to grow.
What is your advice to any young women considering a similar career?
If you have enthusiasm, energy, personality, and motivation this could be the career for you. Butchering can lead to many different pathways, including retail/wholesale shop, supermarket, Halal & Kosher Butchering, Meat Inspector, Meat processing plant and many more. These days fewer stores handle full carcasses so physical strength is not a factor. Women don’t have to lift full quarters of beef. You will develop many different skills from this trade (identifying cuts, knife sharpening, Curing, Small goods processing and cooking guides/techniques). Butchering can be offered by apprenticeship with no student loan repayments.
#SheLooksLikeMe
#SheLooksLikeMe is a campaign that challenges the perceptions of careers in the meat industry. Its purpose is to highlight female role models and encourage more people to join the sector. For more information about Aotearoa New Zealand’s meat industry and the varied roles within, visit www.meatyourcareer.co.nz