Seventh win for local butcher

Mr Marius Jordaan was crowned one of South Africa’s leading butchers for the seventh consecutive year, during the annual Cleaver Awards which took place on Wednesday.

Mr Jordaan, the man behind the meat at Karaglen SuperSpar, was awarded gold nationally in the meat market category of the awards.

The platinum award for 2014 was awarded to Mr Jordaan’s mentor and the man who trained him, Mr Rudi Oosthuyse, from the Grove Spar in Nelspruit.

At the event, the best butcheries both nationally and regionally, were honoured and rewarded for their dedication to providing customers with the best meat on the market.

Nationally, over 30 000 votes were cast, up by at least 10 000 from previous years.

The Cleaver Awards were launched in 2005 to meet the needs of the consumer by raising standards among butcheries.

Since the launch of the awards, butchery standards have significantly improved and feedback from consumers show that the majority perceive the Cleaver Awards to be a seal of approval.

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, the level of competency in offering the best advice on meal preparations and perceived value for money.

Butchers were judged according to stores with four or more till points, butcheries with three or fewer till points and food market or supermarket butcheries.

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

The winners in each category received platinum awards and the runners up received gold awards.

First prize winners in each national category also received a R20 000 cash prize.

The runners up received a R10 000 cash prize.

All of the provincial winners received either a platinum or gold Cleaver Award trophy in their category.