Foodies butchers carve up at 2026 National Butchery Awards
PAK’nSAVE Te Awamutu butcher Cody Burbery
Foodstuffs North Island is celebrating an outstanding result at the Retail Meat New Zealand 2026 National Butchery Awards, with four team members taking home national honours, including PAK’nSAVE Te Awamutu’s Cody Burbery, who was crowned ANZCO Foods Butcher Apprentice of the Year.
Cody was one of six finalists selected from 37 apprentice butchers who competed in regional heats across the country before facing a demanding two-hour cutting test at Auckland’s Eventfinda Stadium.
The competition required apprentice finalists to break down a beef rump, pork shoulder, lamb leg and two chickens, as well as a mystery cut, and transform them into a retail-ready display of value-added products. Competitors also completed a written theory test and formal interview.
Cody’s exceptional technical skills, creativity and knowledge impressed the judging panel, with head judge Peter Martin, Butchery Training Advisor at Skills4Work, describing him as “a shining example of why the butchery craft has such a bright future ahead of it”.
“Cody is clearly being mentored well by the team at PAK’nSAVE Te Awamutu. His performance in the cutting test was exceptional, but he backed it up with a high score in the exam and strong interview performance. He has a bright future ahead of him,” says Martin.
Cody has won the Waikato regional apprentice title twice and was runner-up in the ANZCO Foods Butcher Apprentice of the Year competition last year. This year, he went one step further, taking out the national title and claiming the championship.
For Cody, the national title reflects the support he has received from his team.
“I’m thrilled with the win! A huge thank you to everyone at work for all the support, it’s what kept me going,” says Cody.
“This competition is a fantastic opportunity to showcase everyone’s skill and talent. My advice to fellow competitors is to just keep going and persevere. You are all amazing.”
Cody wasn’t the only Foodies success story on the day.
The Foodie Fighters - made up of Foodstuffs North Island Training Manager Luka Young, Four Square Edmund Road owner-operator Calum Sutherland and New World Orewa Butchery Manager Bryce Gyde - took out the prestigious Pure South Master Butcher Teams Challenge.
Foodstuffs North Island’s Foodie Fighters, from left, Four Square Edmund Road store owner Calum Sutherland, Foodstuffs North Island Training Manager Luka Young, New World Orewa Butchery Manager Bryce Gyde took home all four awards for Best Beef Product, Best Lamb Product, People’s Choice Award, and 1st place overall in the 2026 Pure South Master Butcher Teams Challenge.
The team went head-to-head with three other teams of qualified master butchers, with each team given two hours to break down a beef forequarter, whole lamb, pork loin and poultry, showcasing speed, precision, teamwork and creativity.
The Master Butchers Challenge had four awards up for grabs, and The Foodie Fighters achieved an outstanding clean sweep, taking home all four awards for Best Beef Product, Best Lamb Product, People’s Choice Award, and 1st place overall.
The Foodie Fighters took out the People’s Choice award at this year’s Pure South Master Butcher Teams Challenge.
After narrowly missing out last year, The Foodie Fighters were delighted to see their hard work pay off.
“To be able to do this with my teammates is amazing, especially after going so close last year,” says team captain Luka Young.
“It would have been easy to give up and make excuses but we came together this year, put a lot of time and effort into the goals we set out to achieve and it paid off.”
The results add to an exceptional day for Foodstuffs North Island, with four team members featuring among the national winners and demonstrating the depth of talent and expertise across its stores and support teams.
The 2026 National Butchery Awards brought together New Zealand’s top butchers and emerging talent following five regional heats held in Dunedin, Christchurch, Wellington, Waikato and Auckland throughout June and July.
The awards celebrate the skill, craftsmanship and dedication of New Zealand’s butchery industry, with competitors tested on technical precision, speed, creativity and their ability to perform under pressure in front of expert judges.
As national champion, Cody will receive an all-expenses-paid trip to attend the 2028 World Butchers’ Challenge and will be eligible for selection in the ANZCO Foods Young Butchers of New Zealand Team, alongside a trophy and premium knife set.
The Foodie Fighters will also take home the prestigious team trophy and prize money to share.