With the World Butchers’ Challenge set to take place next month, we caught up with Team GB Team Captain Tom Wood, of Tom Wood Artisan Butchers, during a recent team practice.
Q. How did you get into butchery?
A. My family run a farm and a meat wholesale business. My dad found me a Saturday job when I was about 13 years old and I never looked back.
Q. What do you enjoy about your profession?
A. Educating customers about how to cook and eat properly. People buy too many takeaways these days and then complain they’re short of money. I have three daughters so I’m passionate about teaching young people. I’m also a Professor at Preston College and am due to receive my Institute of Meat Master Butcher award.
Q. What advice would you give to an aspiring butcher?
A. Prepare for long hours but it’s very rewarding. Butchery is a skill and a craft that we need people to support and drive forward.
Q. What made you apply to become a part of Team GB?
A. Someone said I wasn’t ready for it so I was determined to prove I was! Last year I was Vice Captain and now I’m Team Captain. I won’t retire until we win!
Q. Why are competitions like this important?
A. They help showcase the trade and build trust amongst consumers.
Q. What are your ambitions for the future?
A. To become the first celebrity butcher!
Q. What’s your favourite meat dish?
A. Tomahawk steak. Mainly because it’s named after me.
About the World Butchers’ Challenge
Now known as the biggest butchery competition in existence, the World Butchers’ Challenge takes place on 21st March – and Team GB, known as the British Beefeaters, are busy sharpening their knives!
Six of the UK’s best butchers will go to head with teams of butchers from Australia, Brazil, Bulgaria, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, New Zealand, South Africa and the USA for the world championship title during IFEX 2018 at the Titanic Exhibition Centre, Belfast.
Team GB representatives include Michael Dufton, Knitsley Farm Shop; Mark Ramsay, Falleninch Farm Butchers, Stirling; Simon Taylor, Surrey Hills Butchers, Oxshot; Bryce Lawson, McMurchie Meats, Hetton-le-Hole, County Durham; Jessica Leliuga, Ye OIde Sausage Shop, Oswaldtwistle, Lancs and Tom Wood (captain), Tom Wood Artisan Butchers.
For more information visit www.worldbutcherschallenge.com.
Meat Management is supporting Team GB as its official trade media partner. Stay tuned for further interviews with The British Beefeaters on meatmanagment.com.
This story was originally published on a previous version of the Meat Management website and so there may be some missing images and formatting issues.
