Best butchers in town

South Africans take their meat very seriously, at home at in restaurants. Word of a good butchery spreads quickly, with quality meat, taste and stringent hygiene essential.

The winners of the 2011 Cleaver Awards were announced last week at an awards luncheon in Johannesburg. They are pictured above: (back from left) SuperSpar Karaglen’s Marius Jordaan; Boma Vleismark in Moreleta Park’s Hendrik Steenkamp; Skaapland in Bellville’s Andre Olivier; Dave Ford (chairman of the South African Red Meat Industry Forum). (Front from left) Grove Superspar in Nelspruit’s Rudy Oosthuyse; United Muslim Meat in Mayfair’s Abdul Razzak; and Kanhym Fresh Meat Deli in Middelburg’s Louis Kok.

The Cleaver Awards were launched in 2005 initially to meet the needs of the consumer by raising standards among butcheries. It also highlights some of the best butcheries around the country, which chefs and restaurateurs are always keen to know about, to ensure top quality meat on the menu.

Initially 2 500 entries were received in the inaugural Cleaver Awards, with this figure steadily increasing every year. A record 21 865 nominations were received in 2011, over 4 500 more nominations than in 2010. This is evidence enough that these awards have grown in popularity, both among consumers and butcheries countrywide.

Of the 165 butcheries audited again a 212-point checklist, certain national and regional winners exceeding 96%. The checklist was used to independently assess all of these finalists, and was based on criteria such as in-store hygiene, supplying quality assured roller marked SA Beef, offering the best advice as to meal preparations and cost effective ways of buying the best cuts.

Butchers were judged according to three categories: Butcheries with four or more till points; butcheries with three or fewer till points; and food market and supermarket butcheries.

Building up a good relationship with butchers and their teams is essential in understanding where the best meat comes from and to learn new preparation methods.

“The standards of excellence amongst South African butcheries keep increasing year on year. These awards successfully assure the consumer that they can purchase South African Beef with confidence. Consumers are becoming more educated about what to expect from their butchers and are giving credit to those butchers who are exceeding their expectations,” says Dave Ford, chairman of the South African Red Meat Industry Forum.

Nominations were opened towards the end of last year for consumers around the country to vote and nominate their best butchery.

First prize winners in each national category received a R20 000 cash prize and a Platinum Trophy Award. The runners up received a R10 000 cash prize as well as a Gold Cleaver Award Trophy. All of the provincial winners received either a Platinum or Gold Cleaver Award Trophy in their category. Three consumers who nominated the three National Platinum winners each received a voucher for a R1 500 hamper of beef products from the winning butcher.

National winners:

• Up to three tills: Kanhym Fresh Meat Deli, Middelburg (Platinum) and Skaapland, Bellville (Gold)
• Four tills and more: Boma Vleismark, Moreleta Park (Platinum) and United Muslim Meat, Mayfair (Gold)
• Food markets: SuperSpar, Karaglen (Platinum) and Grove SuperSpar, Nelspruit (Gold)

Provincial winners:

• Gauteng: Up to three tills – Ziman Meats, Randfontein (Platinum) and Wierda Park Butchery (Gold). Four and more tills – Seeman’s, Strydom Park (Platinum), Berliner Grill & Deli, Northriding (Platinum) and Butcher Boys, Vanderbijlpark (Gold). Food market – Uitkyk Vleismark, Silverton (Platinum) and Angelo SuperSpar, Nigel (Gold)
• North West: Up to three tills – Uitkyk Slaghuis, Lichtenburg (Platinum) and Impala Vleis, Brits (Gold). Four and more tills – Goudkopslaghuis, Klerksdorp (Platinum)
• Limpopo: Four and more tills – Vleislapa, Marshal St., Polokwane (Platinum) and Vleislapa, Grobler St., Polokwane (Gold)
• Mphumalanga: Up to three tills – Alan’s Butchery, Ermelo (Platinum) and Frank’s Meat, Middelburg (Gold). Food Market – Crossing Spar, Nelspruit (Platinum) and Saveway SuperSpar, Witbank (Gold)
• Free State: Up to three tills – Sparta Butchery, Welkom (Platinum) and Koepel Slaghuis, Parys (Gold). Four and more tills – Fredilla Meat, Welkom (Platinum). Food Market – Pick n Pay Prellerwalk, Bloemfontein (Platinum) and Checkers Langenhovenpark, Bloemfontein (Gold)
• Northern Cape: Up to three tills – West End Vleismark, Kimberley (Platinum) and Smitties Quality Meat, Kuruman (Gold)
• Eastern Cape: Up to three tills – Impala Meats, East London (Platinum) and Merino Slagtery, Port Elizabeth (Gold). Four and more tills – Crave Meats, East London (Platinum). Food Market – Newton Park SuperSpar, Port Elizabeth (Platinum) and Our SuperSpar, Walmer, Port Elizabeth (Gold)
• Western Cape: Up to three tills – Tollies Slaghuis, Hartenbos ( Platinum) and Stilbaai Slaghuis (Gold). Four and more tills – Excellent Meats, Rylands Estate (Platinum). Food Market – SuperSpar, Malmesbury (Platinum) and Pick n Pay Cape Gate, Brackenfell (Gold)
• KwaZulu-Natal: Up to three tills – Dirks Davenport, Durban (Platinum) and Grobbies Butchery, Bluff, Durban (Gold). Four and more tills – Bluff Meats, Bluff, Durban (Platinum) and Michael Frey’s Fresh Meat, Port Shepstone (Gold). Food Market – Checkers Hyper Pavilion Mall, Westville (Platinum) and Pick n Pay, Shelly Beach (Gold)