Meat on Sale This Week Near Me: Butcheries, Supermarkets and Wholesalers Compared

Quick answer: The cheapest meat near you depends on where you live and what you buy, but the three channels behave differently: supermarkets run weekly leaflet specials on chicken, mince and braai packs; butcheries offer cuts, custom portions and bulk packs; and wholesalers such as Makro sell larger quantities at lower unit prices. We cannot see your location or verify this week's prices. Reference points from undated sources include fresh chicken at R59.99 to R65.99 per kg and a 5 kg frozen braai pack at about R200 (about R40 per kg), with Makro reported as cheapest for frozen chicken. Compare the price per kilogram across two or three nearby sources before you buy.

Last updated: October 2026. Reference prices come from an undated Briefly roundup and a Gauteng.net Shoprite listing without a year, so they are guides, not current prices. We cannot know what is on special in your area. Worked numbers are invented.

Background: why "near me" matters more for meat

Meat is heavy, perishable and expensive, so where you buy it matters more than for most groceries. Transport costs, cold storage and local competition all feed into the price. A suburb with several supermarkets and butcheries usually has keener prices than a small town with one store. Rural shoppers may rely on a local butchery, a farm shop or a delivery service, and prices there reflect supply costs and local demand. In informal and township areas, butcheries and supermarkets often compete with traders who sell offal, chicken portions and braai meat at low prices.

There is also a difference in how each channel sells. Supermarkets package meat in standardised trays with printed prices and run leaflet promotions. Butcheries cut to order, so you can specify thickness and weight, and they may offer meat packs for families or events. Wholesalers sell in bulk, which suits those with freezers or who share a purchase. Knowing these differences helps you choose the channel that fits your needs. If the Shoprite offers are not quite what you need, it is worth comparing them with the latest Checkers catalogue and the current Pick n Pay catalogue before you decide.

How to compare near you

Start by listing the places within a short trip: your usual supermarkets, one or two butcheries and the nearest wholesaler. Write down the price per kilogram of the items you buy most, such as mince, chicken pieces, braai wors, stewing beef and rump. Do this once a month to build a record. Check the leaflets of the supermarkets for this week's specials and phone the butchery to ask about packs or weekend deals. Then calculate the cost per kilogram, accounting for bone and fat, and choose the best for your plan.

Look at quality as well as price. Check the colour and smell of fresh meat, the packaging date and the sell-by date, and the fat content of mince. A cheaper mince with a high fat percentage may shrink in the pan and give you less meat. Ask the butcher about the origin and how it was handled, and whether the meat has been frozen and thawed. For halaal needs, look for certification. Hygiene in the shop is a good guide to how the meat has been treated.

Channel	Typical strength	Watch out for
Supermarket	Weekly leaflet specials, convenience	Loyalty-card prices, added water in frozen packs
Butchery	Cut to order, packs, advice	Prices vary; ask for per-kg price
Wholesaler	Low unit prices in bulk	Membership or minimum quantity; freezer space

Consumer tips and safety

Buy meat last in your shopping trip and keep it cold on the way home, using a cooler bag in hot weather. Refrigerate fresh meat promptly and use it within the date, or freeze it in meal-sized portions. Thaw in the fridge, not on the counter, and cook until it reaches a safe internal temperature. Keep raw meat separate from other foods and wash hands and surfaces after handling. During load shedding, keep the freezer closed and use ice packs for long outages.

If budget is tight, consider cheaper cuts and slow cooking. Stewing beef, chuck and shin become tender with long cooking and cost less per kilogram than steak. Add vegetables, pulses and rice to stretch a small amount of meat across a family meal. Chicken pieces are often the cheapest protein, and eggs, lentils and beans are cheaper still. Mixing these across the week keeps variety and lowers cost. Finally, avoid impulse buying of heavily discounted meat that is close to its sell-by date unless you will cook or freeze it the same day.

Frequently asked questions

Where is meat cheapest near me?

Compare supermarkets, butcheries and wholesalers per kilogram; we cannot verify local prices.

Is bulk meat from a wholesaler worth it?

If you have freezer space and will use it within a few months.

How do I keep meat safe on the way home?

Use a cooler bag and refrigerate or freeze promptly.

Sources

• Briefly: budget meat stores roundup (undated); Gauteng.net: Shoprite specials listing (year not stated)
• General food-safety guidance for fresh meat