Meet the best butchers
The winners of the South African Red Meat Industry Forum's 2011 Cleaver Awards were announced on Wednesday 13 April 2011 after judging the 17 600 public nominations received via sms, a record number of nominees. Of these, 145 finalists were individually and anonymously assessed against a 212 point checklist, resulting in six national and 41 provincial winners.

Back (L-R): Martin Gericke (Seemanns, Strijdom Park), Hendrik Steenkamp (Boma Vleismark, Moreletta Park), Rudy Oosthujse (The Grove Super Spar, Nelspruit)
Front (L-R): Shaun Jericevich (Berliner Grill & Deli, Northriding), Chris Christie (Crossing Super Spar, Nelspruit), Susan Ludick (Uitkyk Vleismark, Lichtenburg)Photo: Peter Hassall
"Our adjudicators have a demanding task as the standards have become higher and higher each year. These awards motivate management, personnel, customers, suppliers and competitors alike. We are so pleased that they have been so well supported and continue to benefit the industry year after year," says Dave Ford, chairperson for the South African Red Meat Industry Forum.
First prize winners in each national category received a R20 000 cash prize and a Platinum Cleaver Trophy. The runners up each received a R10 000 cash prize and a Gold Cleaver Trophy. Provincial winners received either a Platinum or Gold Cleaver Trophy in their category. Three selected public winners each received a R1000 beef products hamper from each of the platinum national winners they had nominated.
National Winners | Name | Area | Award | Up to 3 Tills | | | |
| Seemanns Butchery | Strijdom Park, Gauteng | Platinum |
| Berliner Grill & Deli | Northriding, Gauteng | Gold |
4 and More Tills | | | |
| Boma Vleismark | Moreletta Park, Gauteng | Platinum |
| Uitkyk Vleismark | Lichtenburg, North West | Gold |
Meat Market | | | |
| Crossing Super Spar | Nelspruit, Mpumalanga | Platinum |
| The Grove Super Spar | Nelspruit, Mpumalanga | Gold |
Provincial Winners | Name | Area | Award | Western Cape | | | |
Up to 3 Tills | | | |
| Tollies Slaghuis | Hartenbos | Platinum |
| J C Slagtery | Riversdal | Gold |
4 and More Tills | | | |
| Skaapland Tyger valley | Bellville | Platinum |
| Excellent Meat Rylands Estate | Cape Town | Gold |
Meat Market | | | |
| Pick n Pay | Constantia | Platinum |
| Super Spar Gateway | Hermanus | Platinum |
| Pick n Pay | Tokai | Gold |
| Super Spar | Malmesbury | Gold |
Northern Cape | | | |
Up to 3 Tills | | | |
| West End Vleismark | Kimberley | Platinum |
| Smitties Quality Meat | Kuruman | Gold |
Eastern Cape | | | |
Up to 3 Tills | | | |
| Heydenrychs Butchery | Port Elizabeth | Platinum |
| Ideal Butchery | East London | Gold |
4 and More Tills | | | |
| Cuyler Butchery | Uitenhage | Platinum |
Meat Market | | | |
| Pick n Pay Family | Grahamstown | Platinum |
| Super Spar Walmer | Walmer | Gold |
Free State | | | |
Up to 3 Tills | | | |
| Koepel Vleismark | Parys | Platinum |
| Kroon Vars Vleis | Kroonpark | Gold |
4 and More Tills | | | |
| Fredilia Meat | Welkom | Platinum |
Meat Markets | | | |
| Pick n Pay Bloemgate | Bloemfontein | Platinum |
KwaZulu-Natal | | | |
Up to 3 Tills | | | |
| Dirks Meat Market | Glenwood, Durban | Platinum |
| Grobbies Slaghuis | Durban | Gold |
4 and More Tills | | | |
| Bluff Meat Supply | Pinetown | Platinum |
| Bluff Meat Supply | Durban | Platinum |
| Michael Frey Fresh Meat | Port Shepstone | Gold |
Meat Markets | | | |
| Michael Freys Fresh Meats | Shelly Beach | Platinum |
| Pick n Pay | Shelly Beach | Gold |
Mpumalanga | | | |
Up to 3 Tills | | | |
| Kanhym Vars Vleis Deli | Middelburg | Platinum |
| Alan's Slaghuis | Ermelo | Gold |
Meat Markets | | | |
| Super Spar Saveway | Witbank | Platinum |
Limpopo | | | |
4 and More Tills | | | |
| Vleislapa | Polokwane | Platinum |
Meat Markets | | | |
| Super Spar | Bela-Bela | Platinum |
| Pick n Pay | Bela-Bela | Gold |
North West | | | |
Up to 3 Tills | | | |
| Impala Vleis | Brits | Platinum |
4 and More Tills | | | |
| Goudkopslaghuis | Klerksdorp | Platinum |
Meat Markets | | | |
| Palmsand Spar | Lichtenberg | Platinum |
Gauteng | | | |
Up to 3 Tills | | | |
| Roodt Meat | Florida | Platinum |
| United Muslim Meat Supply | Johannesburg | Gold |
4 and More Tills | | | |
| Butcher Boys | Vanderbijlpark | Platinum |
| Edleen Butchery | Kempton Park | Gold |
Meat Markets | | | |
| Karaglen Super Spar | Johannesburg | Platinum |
| Pick n Pay Waverley | Pretoria | Platinum |