Innovative Mooketsi Meat Market set to become food hub for communities

The Mooketsi Meat Market, adjacent to the Freshlinq Fresh Produce Market in Mooketsi, was started six months ago by farming conglomerate ZZ2 as a project of ZZ2 Meat Corporation.

“Food security, especially with regard to protein, is something that needs to be addressed in South Africa and by supplying well-priced protein food products, we are hoping to address customers’ needs for healthy yet affordable protein products,” said Manie Potgieter, project leader of the Mooketsi Meat Market.

Potgieter said that during the hard lockdown months of the Covid-19 pandemic, the company was left with surplus meat that was derived from hunting and cattle farming without an outlet. “We realised we had to create an outlet to give our customers access to meat and protein at reasonable prices, the same way the fresh produce markets do.”

ZZ2 Meat Corporation focusses on product development and as such partnered with a producer in Mokopane and developed a wors range in three flavours – Barbeque, Chakalaka and Griller, made from cattle from their grass-fed herd. “The well-priced wors is not only tasty and healthy, but buying from a reputable supplier will give our customers even further peace of mind of the quality they are procuring.”

The company has also decided to draw on their expertise as growers of tomatoes and other fresh produce and is looking into adding more value through partnerships by developing relishes that will be available in vacuum packs. The idea is to take fresh produce and prolong its shelf life giving communities access to good and healthy food at very reasonable prices.

All of these products are, and will be, available at the meat market. Mooketsi Meat Market also stocks meat and protein products from other producers such as chicken and bulk carcass by products. They also support local innovators such as Tin Stuf, a protein canning company in Georges Valley near Tzaneen. “We are hoping that this outlet facility will become a blue print to be repeated at other fresh produce markets across the country.”

He said that as many small traders and bulk buyers of fresh produce already visit the premises, it only made sense to use the fresh produce markets to give their customers access to meat and protein too. Since opening their doors, Mooketsi Meat Market has shown a 30% growth month to month and there is already talk of repeating the successful concept at other fresh produce markets such as Polokwane and Mbombela.

“We believe that this market can become a blueprint on how to maximise the access the fresh produce markets provide for, and to, traders and communities at large to include protein.” Potgieter added that in the current protein market, the markup is excessive which is to detriment of consumers and food security. In this regard they are providing meat and protein products that are affordable, cutting markup to the minimum.

They also intend to soon expand the offering at the outlet with the installation of smaller fridges where the local community will also be able to purchase their meat fresh or frozen first hand in smaller sizes.

Meet manager of the Mooketsi Meat Market

Meet Petunia Mola, manager and driving force behind the Mooketsi Meat Market. Petunia hails from Phalaborwa and comes from a banking background. “I am loving the challenge of running and promoting the business. I am excited about the opportunities the business presents and is looking forward to grow and expand with the company!”

Mooketsi Meat Market is situated next to the Mooketsi Freshlinq Fresh Produce Market on the R36 across from the Jachtpad turnoff. Contact them on 015 395 8443 or email petunia.m@meatcorp.co.za for more information.