How Does a Butcher Spend a Workday?

Preparing Meat for Sale

One of a butcher's first tasks of the day is to get meat ready to be sold to customers during the workday. Butchers normally work with large animal carcasses, cutting them until they are in a sellable form. They must also ensure that this meat remains fresh during the day and is properly stored. Once a butcher has separated meat into sellable pieces, the portions must be properly packaged and labeled.

Helping Customers

Whether they work in a small shop or a large supermarket, butchers spend a large part of their day working with customers. Butchers must respond to all shoppers, often answering questions or giving recommendations for a new cut of meat to try or different cooking methods. In addition, butchers will often receive larger orders over the phone that will require additional work and preparation.

Marketing and Advertising

In the case of a small butcher shop, the butcher will usually devote some time to developing advertising and attracting new customers. For butchers in a larger supermarket, part of their job is usually to determine where prices should be set and what items should go on sale. A butcher also has to predict their customers' desires for the future and order an appropriate amount of meat.