Butchers inside major supermarkets could soon become extinct.

No more stopping for a friendly chat about the cut of your meat with the butcher while you shop.

Coles is considering stocking only pre-packed retail-ready meat and ditching the in-store trained butchers.

The Australasian Meat Industry Employees Union said the change would see qualified butchers ‘redeployed’ into other roles at the supermarkets.

Woolworths supermarkets have about 300 in-store butcher shops across Australia.

In Casino, Bill Darragh from Darragh’s Plaza Butchery directly opposite Woolworths, said the supermarket had stopped using in-store butchers 12 months ago.

We asked if the loss of a supermarket butcher was advantageous for his shop. He didn’t have time to answer, “I have customers waiting,” he said.

The butchers will have the advantage over the supermarkets on this one.

Customers who want to discuss the quality and source of their meat purchases or chat about the day will head to private butcher shops.

The packaging in pre-packed meats from the supermarket is another issue to consider.

This article appeared in the Richmond River Independent, 14 July 2021.