March 13, 2003

Top Ten Complaints of Meat Department Managers

by Dan Murphy

It's tough and often thankless work managing supermarket meat cases, and those who do have plenty of reasons to squawk. Here are the Top Ten Complaints of Meat Department Managers:

10. Trying to keep a straight face when the cashier calls over the PA for a "price check on Boston butts."

9. The incredibly short shelf life of that tray-full of hamburger that's used as an ashtray during lunch breaks.

8. Beverage aisle display: Life-size cutouts of the Miller cat-fighting chicks wearing only lingerie. Meat department display: Poster of a fat guy in a "chef's" apron holding two burnt hot dogs on a stick.

7. How many times a day can you repeat the phrase, "Ma'am -- once it's cooked that gray color will disappear"?

6. Product demo "girls" who were hot stuff -- back when Nixon was in the White House . . . . as VICE president.

5. Brokers who act insulted just because you suggest they could "lose" a couple cases of sirloins off the back of their trucks once in awhile.

4. Nosy shoppers who actually check those thermometers buried in the back of the case.

3. The sinking reality that women just don't appreciate a "freebie" chuck roast like they used to.

2. Last decent bonus was getting to take home those packages of steaks some shoplifter shoved down his shorts.

And the No. 1 complaint of meat department managers:

1. Having to wash off those deli slicers every single Sunday!

This article reprinted with permission from Meat Marketing and Technology Magazine.

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