Last night I got to talk to a old school butcher, Phil Verduce ( Coalcracker ) of North Augusta S.C.
He has been around the meat block a few times, took his lumps, educated his self in our trade and climb the ladder in our Trade. If anyone has a question about our trade and the skills of it, ask him, he knows the ropes
Check out his Biography
I started my meat cutting career in a small butcher shop in a small town in Pa. in 1960 right out of high school. This is where I leaned the fundamentals working 45 hours per week making about $28.00 a week.
Our children came fast 2 years apart and I needed to make more money so I tried to get hired at the A&P Scranton, Pa. division. I couldn't get in as someone had to die so I began my career in Bridgeport Conn. Long story how I got there. I worked in Conn for two years and then transferred back to Scranton and worked for them for another 10 years. Going from cutter, to dept. manager to intern meat buyer.
I got a tip that the Scranton division was in trouble so I had an opportunity to take a position with Affiliated Food Distributors in Scranton as a meat specialist traveling to help independent grocers make money in their meat departments. IBP was our main supplier of beef and I went to Dakota City to tour their corporate meat packing plant and I was smitten. I let it be known that I would love to work for IBP and I got my chance. After a lengthy training period I was given a position as junior consultant working from my home in Pa. and then after in Fairfax Va. where they finally built a meat management school. I was an instructor at the school. I worked for IPB for just about 7 years and missed the retail meat business so I returned to AFD as their meat director.
I was given the responsibility of overseeing merchandizing,advertising buying and new product development for about 350 stores. With the help of a good staff we increased sales and membership.
Then one day I got a call from Mopac near Philadelphia and they were looking for a sales manager for their packing operation. They made a offer I could not refuse so I worked with Mopac for a few years. Mopac was bought by Smithfield. A recruiter contacted me and asked if I would take a job in Plainwell Mi.as V.P. of Sales for another meat packer Murco, now Smithfield too. Unbeknown to me the company was in the process of filing for chapter 11. However, in the meantime while the lawyers and banks were working things out we began to turn the business around. They couldn't believe it. After 5 years we burnt mortgage note.
I missed my home in Pa and found a job with Taylor Packing as V.P. of sales & marketing in Wyalusing Pa. They were a cow slaughter and I introduced the "white cow" program and then a grading program and I stayed with Taylor (24th largest packer) for 15 years until they were bought out by Cargill/Excel.
It was time for me to move on so I did and began a two year consulting career that ended at FPL foods in Augusta, Ga. I had a great run with a total of 40 years invested in the meat business at the packer, wholesaler, retail levels.
What I miss most of all is the retail meat business. I enjoyed working at the store level more than anything else I have done. I missed cutting so much I took a job for 2 years as a cutter at Foodlion in North Augusta, S.c. where I live. Right across the Savannah river from Augusta.
Today I am retired and have a hobby business making candles of all things.
Great Bio Coalcracker! Sounds like you've done it all. Refreshing to hear that you liked retail the most, as that's all I ever did. Enjoy your retirement!
Thank you Jimmy really appreciate it. Funny story. Last week a long time member of our church asked me to show her and her husband how to cut up whole fryers, now these people wear their religion on their sleeves, if you know what I mean. She tells me that they are on fixed incomes and need to stretch their food budget dollars. I said sure no problem, buy a few birds and I stop by your house and show you how. Well the husband is retired and loves golf, (where does that money come from )? I don't fancy to golf. So after I was done he said "do you golf" maybe we can hit the greens some time. I needed to nip that in the bud right away. So I said to him. I played one time and that was it. He said why what happened. I said the best two balls I hit was when I stepped on a rake in a sand-trap. LOL>They were shocked at my joke so I went home. LOL>
Welcome coalcracker, I spent all my career in the retail end, Started back in the middle 50's. I always enjoyed meeting the customers. Had a chance once to be a salesman for Atlanta Provision but turned it down and went to work for Shields meat market til I retired when my health got bad.
I'm on the same page as you about golf. Just don't get the attraction. I would rather mow my lawn than play or watch golf, but different strokes for different folks as they say. Golfing events are big in my current field of telecommunications but when I'm asked to participate, I say, "How about a trap shoot instead?"
Coalcracker wrote:
Thank you Jimmy really appreciate it. Funny story. Last week a long time member of our church asked me to show her and her husband how to cut up whole fryers, now these people wear their religion on their sleeves, if you know what I mean. She tells me that they are on fixed incomes and need to stretch their food budget dollars. I said sure no problem, buy a few birds and I stop by your house and show you how. Well the husband is retired and loves golf, (where does that money come from )? I don't fancy to golf. So after I was done he said "do you golf" maybe we can hit the greens some time. I needed to nip that in the bud right away. So I said to him. I played one time and that was it. He said why what happened. I said the best two balls I hit was when I stepped on a rake in a sand-trap. LOL>They were shocked at my joke so I went home. LOL>
Glad you join us, I just read your adding value, I see you a wise man. Read your history and sure I will learn a few things from you. you have lived an interesting life
