Max Gruber from Großweingarten: Bavaria's best butcher shop awarded!

Max Gruber from Großweingarten: Bavaria's best butcher shop awarded!

On June 4, 2025, the Bavarian State Honorary Prize for the butchery trade was awarded in Munich, and the Max Gruber butcher shop from Großweingarten caused cheers. It is one of the “ten best butcher shops in Bavaria” and has been recognized for its outstanding achievements. Minister of State Michaela Kaniber presented the honor in a festive setting in the Max Joseph Hall of the Munich Residence. The Faber butcher shop from Bad Kissingen was also pleased to receive an award.

A total of 188 companies and an additional five vocational schools applied for the state award, a real proof of the high quality and commitment in the butcher trade in Bavaria. This award is now in its 13th year, and many Bavarian butchers are proud of their tradition and craftsmanship, which plays a central role in the German meat industry. With around 2,549 butcher shops, Bavaria has the most butcher shops in Germany and around 1,600 slaughterhouses approved under EU law.

Importance of craftsmanship

The butchery trade in Bavaria is of enormous importance not only for the nationwide local supply, but also for the quality of the meat and sausage products produced. “We have to inspire the next generation for skilled trades,” emphasized Kaniber. For this purpose, the Franz Oberthür School in Würzburg and the municipal vocational school for the butcher trade in Munich even received a special prize for their support of young professionals.

The Minister of State actively highlighted the achievements of the Bavarian butchers, especially those of the German national butcher team, which won the runner-up world championship title in Paris at the end of March 2025. These successes are and remain important for the visibility and recognition of the butcher's trade, she noted.

Support measures for butchers

The Bavarian State Ministry for Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Tourism has adopted various measures to support the butchery trade. In addition to improving investment support programs such as “Market Structure Promotion” and VuVregio, this also includes adjusting meat hygiene fees. Around 95 percent of the slaughterhouses in Bavaria benefit from these measures, and around 16 million euros were approved for the meat sector in the last funding period.

Max Gruber and his team can now look back proudly on their achievements and are sure that with their quality craftsmanship and commitment they are making a valuable contribution to the Bavarian butchering tradition. The support and recognition by the Minister of State shows how important the butchery trade is for the region and the entire industry.
Information about the awards and the companies can be found here: in Franconia, StMELF and ALP Bavaria.