One of the best meat counters of the year is in Bielefeld. And one of the greatest new talents comes from the Westerwald. Last Wednesday (15 February), Lebensmittelpraxis presented awards to the winners of the industry competition "Meat Star 2023."
REWE Quermann in Bielefeld emerged victorious in the final competition for sales areas of 2,001 to 5,000 square metres. Among other things, the team impressed with its unconventional information medium. Using live transmission on monitors, customers at the meat counter are given an insight into the business of pig producer Gabriele Mörixmann from Melle and a direct idea of what active pig farming means. The many regional producers are a focal point of the market. The fresh meat counter also offers beef from the species-appropriate husbandry of a regional meat manufacturer.
Celebrating craftsmanship
The finalists in the large stores (5,001 square metres or more) were neck-and-neck. The team from the REWE Centre in Olching was narrowly beaten here, missing out on the top spot by a hair's breadth. The location near Munich has just been remodelled and brought up to date. Master butcher and long-standing department manager Erich Rösner passionately leads his team, which includes four master butchers and several butcher's shop assistants. They celebrate their craft and produce Bavarian sausage, customised to the taste of the customers. A regional speciality are the white and stock sausages.
Organic as a focus
Another REWE location nominated in the category up to 2,000 square metres was Goerzallee in Berlin-Steglitz. Organic meat and sausages are at the centre of activities there. Since the concept was remodelled three years ago, employees at the store have noticed an increased demand for goods from the higher stages of production. Organic products in particular are doing disproportionately well. Other specialities on offer include Icelandic pasture-raised lamb (Vikingyr) and Irish pasture-raised lamb.
Likeable young talent: Pascal Jung from Hachenburg
Meat star talent
The trainees in the meat sector were put through their paces. Over two days at the Food Academy in Neuwied, they put their product knowledge, practical skills, creativity and teamwork to the test. In the end, Pascal Jung from the REWE supermarket in Hachenburg impressed the critical judges and received the "Meat Star Talent 2023" award.
