Meet the Team - Mark Saunders

Meet Mark Saunders

Trimmer at Manawatū

Mark works in the boning room at ANZCO Foods Manawatū as a trimmer. It’s his job, along with three other trimmers, to remove meat and fat from bones that come through from the saw. The meat is then sent on for further processing or packing.

Before coming to ANZCO, Mark lived in Wellington and worked in the chiller at Taylor Preston. He then moved to Levin, where he worked in the freezer at Alliance. He made the move to ANZCO just over a year ago after buying a house in Himatangi Beach.

Since starting here, Mark has appreciated the good communication on-site. He says his supervisors often let him know about changes or shutdowns as early as possible, which helps him plan ahead.

Outside of work, Mark is a big sports fan. He enjoys playing golf and going fishing, and also keeps up with rugby, rugby league, NBA, cricket, and more. His daughter lives in Wellington, and he often spends time watching her play sport as well.

When he’s not playing or watching sport, he enjoys playing poker with friends. When he lived in Wellington, he played every week and met a lot of people through his poker club. He’s also played in large tournaments, including one where he competed against a professional player. He says it can be nerve-wracking, as players try to pick up on each other’s tells. According to Mark, one of the easiest tells to spot is a player’s eyeline - where they look before making a move - as well as how they handle their cards and place their bets.

Moving from the city to a small town has been a big change. Mark says it’s a close-knit community, where kids are often out playing until late and people look out for each other - he says it's like going back to the 70s! He also enjoys his commute more. It takes about the same amount of time to get to work, but the views are much better, and there's hardly any traffic. He loves being close to the coast, and after a busy day he'll often takes his dog, an American Staffy, for a walk along the beach.

Fun facts

• Beach or mountains?
  Beach
• What are you currently working towards?
  Going to the Rugby World Cup next year with a couple friends
• If you could eat one cuisine for the rest of your life, what would it be?
  Indian
• What was your first concert?
  The Exponents
• What's your perfect day off?
  Going for a game of golf
• If you could instantly master any skill, what would it be?
  Card counting!