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Post Info TOPIC: Meijer meat cutter apprenticeship program to be launched in January
apcowboy


Founder of The Meat Cutter's Club

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Meijer meat cutter apprenticeship program to be launched in January
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Meijer Meat Departments Get Butcher Shop Aura

Oct. 25, 2012
http://supermarketnews.com/

 

 

RELATED MEDIA
Meat Labeling Now
 

 

 

 

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Meijer has re-done its fresh meat departments, giving customers the type of service and quality they could expect to get at a traditional butcher shop.

 

Cut-to-order beef and an upgraded beef selection — exclusively Certified Angus beef — are stand-out features of the 199-unit chain’s new program.

 

Meijer, having completed a company-wide meat cutter certification program this past summer, will staff each of its full-service meat counters with three to four cutters who have been certified to meet all of the company’s standards and to provide customers with quality, custom cuts in precise portions, Meijer officials said in a statement.

 

Additional meat cutters will be trained in an apprenticeship program to be launched in January. As well as adding a lineup of certified meat cutters, the company is the first in the Midwest to upgrade its beef to Certified Angus exclusively. Not only that, but the upgraded beef will be retailed at prices most retailers charge for USDA Choice beef, said Jerry Suter, vice president of fresh merchandise, in the statement.

 

“Meijer is always looking for ways to improve our customers’ shopping experience, and by making our meat department more like a traditional butcher shop, we are ensuring the best service for our customers,” Suter said.

 

 

 

ANYONE heard of any other chain that is starting their apprenticeship program back up or even have one??

 



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Leon Wildberger

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kbraker510


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RE: Meijer meat cutter apprenticeship program to be launched in January
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Where i work we have one, just not in my store. we are too small and dont have the volume. Sadly, the apprentices end up working almost every night and wrap and fill the hotdog case. the last guy we had as an appretice was only brought on so the meat manager in a certain store could work all mornings and no weekends... i guess if you whine and cry enough you can get a glorified slave boy...

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JimmyMac


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RE: Meijer meat cutter apprenticeship program to be launched in January
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Drives me nuts watching my meat wrapper being assigned everything but wrapping meat. It's a great way to start off the day... behind the 8-ball.

Truth be told out of the four meat wrappers we have only one of them can actually half-wrap.

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extra ecclesiam nulla salus

 
kar


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RE: Meijer meat cutter apprenticeship program to be launched in January
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Dominicks are bringing back theres thats why i got transfered

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bear
sbbutcherboy


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RE: Meijer meat cutter apprenticeship program to be launched in January
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Stater Bros. Markets has had there Apprenticeship Program in place for at least the last 12 years,And off and on before that.I finished it in 2003 and its a 2 year program. We have Full Service Meat cases I have a 36' full service and a 32' self service case.We carry A little bit of choice but mostly select meats.

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Travis Taylor
Shelley


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RE: Meijer meat cutter apprenticeship program to be launched in January
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back in my apprenticeship......yes...we had color tv then.......we were told that King County (washington state) was the only county where a 2 year apprenticeship was mandatory. At the time I thought it was a huge waste of time since i then worked for albertsons.....which was considered the black sheep of the industry out here ( no thought required by meat managers....just a good "yes" man) No merchandising was required to work there. But when I left there and went to work for an independent ( Central market in shoreline, wa) I was glad I did.

This company is managed from the bottom up. They felt that they had the professionals as dept managers and let them run the shop accordingly to their customer base. The promotions were the best!!!! "Butt Ugly" sale was one of my favorites.....pork butt and ugly fruit....hehe....customers would come in just to see what the heck it was. Pork lobby shows.....go through about 200 cases of bnls pork loin in 2 days....price the primal....cut it out in front of customer....and custom wrap and label for their freezer.

**actually the best one i could never get over was the banner they had over a bulk pistachio display right in front of meat case....reading....hold on..."Salty Nut Sacks" Had a hell of a time keeping my guys from doing intercom announcements....."get your salty nut sacks over by the meat dept.....along with your pork loin" aaahhhh the good ole days!!

anyway....my point is...and this is probably not the correct board to be saying it ( was reading 2 boards on apprenticeships and mom/pop shops).....I have always felt that the mom and pop shops, independents, etc will be the ones to rise to the top. the customer service.....the knowledge base...creativity......and just the overall pride and love for what they do is what will keep them alive. the chains are robots with absolutely no loyalty to anything but their customers wallet. Doesn't make it fact.....just my opinion....and of course there is always the exception.

unfortunately until government gives a break to the smaller companies....for being small....instead of huge breaks to big ones.....it will be a constant struggle to keep the doors open. Especially since it seems that the general public would rather save a couple pennies of their welfare check by getting their junk food at walmart.....instead of supporting family run business that made this country what is......or is supposed to be.

I apologize for the political outburst.....i just get worked up sometimes....hehe.

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chickenfeet


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RE: Meijer meat cutter apprenticeship program to be launched in January
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Let me start with I have worked for Meijer in Michigan.
The Apprenticeship program for Meijer will be so miss used by it's store management.
This program will be away for store management to pay $7.40 a hour for some poor young person to learn to hunk and chunk.
I have cut meat for 20 years and never have I worked for a company that knew less about making money in a meat department.

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