Leo Delaney, 33, recently had the opportunity to show off his butchering skills in Ireland, where he participated in the World Butchers’ Challenge.
The competition took place in Belfast, Northern Ireland, where 12 teams from across the world competed against each other. The aim of the challenge was to give butchers the opportunity to showcase their skills in cutting, dressing and presenting cuts, were judged by a panel of experts.
The South African team consisted of six members, and they managed to place tenth. For Leo, the competition was an amazing experience. He said, “The meat industry is wonderful and I was overwhelmed by the skill and passion of my peers in the international community”.
He explained that they qualified for participation in the world challenge when Team Six Pack (as they call themselves), won the National Butchers Challenge at the Fire and Feast Festival which took place at the Ticketpro Dome. “We are a team of six friends in the meat industry, who came together to have a bit of fun – and that’s exactly what we had,” he said, smiling.
Leo said he’s been a butcher for almost as long as he can remember, and would not want it any other way. “As is the case for every son, my father was my hero, and I admired his work ethic. He is a master butcher, trained by the Institute of Meat in Scotland. He saw my passion, and, at a very young age, nurtured it, by allowing me to help in his shop during school holidays and weekends. I made my first boerewors at the age of 12,” Leo said.
After he matriculated, he began his formal apprenticeship which was completed in 2009. “I had the opportunity to work at a large meat processing plant in Ireland during my apprenticeship, where I developed a love for food safety. When I returned to South Africa, I became manager of a biltong factory in Northriding, before becoming a National Food Safety, Risk and Compliance manager for a large retail company, where I oversee their 19 butcheries,” he said.
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