Meijer Beefs Up its Butcher Shops

Meijer Inc. is moving its meat departments to a more traditional butcher shop environment, complete with certified meat cutters, full-service meat counters and the highest quality beef to continue to enhance customer experience.

Meijer will carry only Certified Angus Beef and offer it at the same price most retailers charge for USDA Choice, according to Jerry Suter, Meijer’s VP of fresh merchandise.

“Meijer is always looking for ways to improve our customers’ shopping experience, and by making our meat department more like a traditional butcher shop, we are ensuring the best service for our customers,” Suter said. “We are exclusively offering Certified Angus Beef, the absolute highest quality beef, and continuing that tradition of carrying the best brands without the premium prices.”

The Certified Angus Beef selection at Meijer will include ground, chuck, steaks, roasts and custom cuts available at the full-service meat counter.

Meijer concluded its meat cutter certification program in June. All Meijer meat cutters – three or four per store – are certified to ensure quality custom cuts, precise portioning and adherence to the strictest food safety practices. An apprenticeship program is slated to launch in January to train additional meat cutters.

“Our team members in the Meijer meat department will now be able to provide even higher levels of customer service,” Suter said. “We are very confident that Meijer customers will be pleased with this added level of expertise now available to them.”

Grand Rapids, Mich.-based Meijer Inc. operates 199 supercenters and grocery stores throughout Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Kentucky.