Shoppers wise up on meat

MORE people are ditching the butchery aisle in retail stores‚ cutting out the middleman and turning to buying meat in bulk to save money.

“If I were to buy the same amount of meat at retail stores‚ I would need a loan the following day‚ that’s how much I feel meat is expensive‚” Bongane Qansane, from Germiston‚ said.

He spends R1 500 monthly on his favourite protein.

“Once a month I make a trip to Heidelberg. There’s an Eskort butchery where I get my pork relatively cheaper than normal shops‚ and I go to Karan beef butchery in the same area for beef and mutton.

“It’s great value for money‚ plus I have been saving a lot since I started buying in bulk.” Sipho Dube partners with a friend. “On a monthly basis I give my friend money to buy meat for me. I spend R400 a month and an additional R40 for fuel to give to the guy who is buying for me. I have been doing this for ages.

“I have a family to look after‚ so I’m saving big time and it’s also quality meat‚” Dube said.

Pieter Prinsloo, of the Red Meat Producers Organisation, said last year’s drought had contributed greatly to the increase in meat prices but essentially meat was more expensive at retailers because it was convenient shopping.

Graeme Hosken, of Centurion, said buying directly from the farmer had been life-changing.

“I buy everything from meat to veggies and [other essentials] at the Pretoria Farmers Market.

“Retailers are just too expensive and we only go there for detergents and small things we can’t get at the market.”

For six Soweto women‚ bulk buying allows them to keep meat on their tables.

Thoko Nkosi explained that they put away R150 a month for 11 months.

Come the festive season‚ they could afford to stock up on meat.

“Last year‚ we were able to buy a cow for about R6 000 and we told the butcher how we wanted it cut. We all walked away with different cuts of meat from steak to T-bone‚” Nkosi said.

A butcher from the Alberton Meat Market‚ however‚ said it was important to note that it was not only the price of meat that could differ from one place to the other but the cut and grade of the meat as well.

I have been saving a lot since I started buying in bulk