Levin butcher proves he's a cut above with win

Mathew Wilson from Pak'nSave Mini in Levin.

A young Levin man has scooped Foodstuffs North Island Graduate Butcher of the Year award.

Mathew Wilson started at age 14 as a butchery cleaner and after six years he has completed his apprenticeship.

Wilson hopes to follow in the footsteps of his grandfather who was also a butcher, and one day manage or own his own butchery.

He said winning the award came as a surprise.

"I wasn't expecting to come away with an award like that because there are a lot of great apprentices around, but I was really happy to have got it," he said.

Wilson said he likes working at Pak'nSave Mini in Levin because it's the first of its kind in New Zealand.

He also said that because it is a mini they don't have to work with huge volumes of meat which enables him to take his time and learn the craft of butchery.

Pak'nSave owner Gwen Bailey said Wilson was a really nice guy who is really committed to his work.

"He is one of those people we have never had any issues with and never will," she said.

"I'm so glad he won it because he definitely deserved it, he puts the effort in, and is really good with customers."

She said Wilson was really humble when he won the title.