THE country’s best butcheries, both nationally and regionally, were announced at a luncheon recently attended by senior members of the meat production and retail industry, award finalists, judges and media.
The annual Cleaver Awards were launched in 2005 to raise industry standards. A butchery cannot enter itself, but has to be nominated by its customers.
Over 30 000 public nominations were received via SMS or online for the latest awards. Of these, 105 finalists were individually and anonymously assessed against a 212-point checklist, with some of the National Winners scoring up to 99,8%.
An emerging trend over the past few years is for franchise butcheries to win multiple awards. This year was no different.
Kings Meat Deli Castle Walk, Erasmuskloof won a National Gold Award, while its Lynnwoodbridge branch won a provincial Gold for Gauteng. Similarly, Boma Vleismark Olympus from Faerie Glen, Pretoria won a National Gold Award, while Boma Vleismark from Moreleta Park took home a Platinum Provincial Award in Gauteng.
Vleislapa Marshalstreet and Vleislapa Groblerstreet, both from Polokwane in Limpopo, once again walked away with a Platinum and Gold Provincial Award respectively. A similar situation took place in Mpumalanga with Frank`s Meat Supply Retail City taking a Platinum Award and Frank`s Meat, Panorama Centre taking a Gold.
In Durban, Bluff Meat Supply from the Bluff once again been awarded Platinum, with its Pinetown store awarded Gold.
Spar Meat Markets continue to perform remarkably year on year, with 2017 being no exception.
An initiative of the South African Red Meat Industry Forum, these Awards acknowledge butcheries which meet consumer expectations on in-store hygiene, the supply of quality assured roller marked South African Beef, their level of competency in offering the best advice on meal preparations and perceived value for money.
Butchers were judged according to three categories namely;
- Butcheries with four or more till points,
- Butcheries with three or fewer till points and,
- Food market / Supermarket butcheries
4 and more tills
Bluff Meat Supply, Bluff, Durban Platinum
Bluff Meat Supply, Pinetown, Durban Gold
Up to 3 tills
Dirks Meat Market, Durban North Platinum
Michael Freys Fresh Meat, Shelly Beach Gold
Meat Market
Pick n Pay, Kingsburgh, Durban Platinum
Food Lovers Market, Westwood Mall, Westville Gold