Woolworths has removed in-store butchers from all its South Island supermarkets.
“Our in-store butchery teams have served our customers with incredible skill and dedication for many years, and we thank them for their contribution.
“We remain committed to supporting South Island farmers and delivering great value and quality for our customers every day.”
The company’s response did not specify how many workers were affected, whether they had been redeployed or made redundant, or where the South Island’s meat would be processed.
The move follows a trial reported in April, when Woolworths was considering replacing its remaining South Island butcheries with pre-packaged meat.
At the time, Workers First Union’s Rudd Hughes challenged the company’s explanation for its recruitment difficulties, telling Newstalk ZB that butchers were leaving because they could “see the writing on the wall”.
He said workers feared the trial would lead to restructuring and were getting out ahead of it.
Centralised processing is already established in Woolworths’ North Island business.
The change comes amid political pressure over supermarket competition.
National has pledged, if re-elected, to pursue splitting Foodstuffs into two competing nationwide grocery chains, subject to a Commerce Commission assessment finding the change would benefit shoppers.
The proposal would separate Pak’nSave from New World and Four Square, creating three major competing groups alongside Woolworths.