FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Sourcing & Animal Welfare
Is your beef free-range?
This is one of the most common questions we get — and it deserves a straight answer. The short version: it depends on the species.
Our chicken is free-range. South Africa has an established industry protocol for free-range poultry production, audited by the South African Meat Industry Company (SAMIC) on behalf of the Department of Agriculture. Our chicken is sourced from suppliers who comply with this standard.
Our beef and lamb are a different matter. As of 2025, South Africa still has no nationally legislated standard defining “free-range” for red meat. The term exists, but without a uniform national protocol it means different things from supplier to supplier. We won’t use it as a label for our beef or lamb because we can’t verify it to a defined and audited standard.
What we can tell you about our beef and lamb: our cattle are raised in feedlot conditions by suppliers we vet and visit personally. The animals are well-managed and properly cared for. We are selective about who we work with and hold them to the same standards we hold ourselves.
Is your meat antibiotic-free?
There is no routine use of antibiotics in our supply chain. Our suppliers do not administer antibiotics as a standard farming practice.
If an animal becomes ill and requires treatment, it is removed from the herd and treated humanely. That animal is not returned for slaughter until it has fully cleared any withdrawal period — meaning no antibiotic residue remains in the meat. This is standard responsible farming practice, and it is what we require from our suppliers.
No routine antibiotics, ever. And no animal enters our supply chain unless it is clean.
Is your beef grass-fed?
Our cattle are finished in a feedlot on a carefully formulated feed mix. That feed mix is grain-inclusive — we won’t tell you otherwise.
What we can confirm:
- The feed contains no animal by-products
- It is a quality, nutritionally balanced mix designed for healthy animal development
- The animals are well-managed and properly cared for throughout
We don’t use the “grass-fed” label because it would be misleading. What we do use is quality-controlled sourcing, personal supplier relationships, and our own eyes on the process. That matters more to us than a label.
Do you visit your suppliers?
Yes. This is not a box-ticking exercise. We have long-standing supplier relationships built on direct contact and regular engagement. We visit suppliers to verify that the standards we expect — in animal welfare, handling, and feed management — are being maintained. If a supplier doesn’t meet our requirements, we don’t work with them.
What food safety certifications do you hold?
Country Meat is HACCP certified. This means:
- Full traceability from farm to store to customer
- Staff trained in food safety protocols
- Documented systems governing every stage of handling
- Compliance with regulatory and export-level standards
HACCP is not a marketing badge — it’s an operational system. It governs how we receive, handle, prepare, and dispatch every product that leaves our facility.
Ordering & Delivery
How does delivery work?
We deliver using our own refrigerated vehicles — not a third-party courier. Your order is packed at our facility in Lonehill and moves through a fully controlled cold chain from preparation to your door. Temperature never breaks. That’s non-negotiable.
Delivery is available to Johannesburg North and surrounding areas. You’ll select your delivery slot at checkout.
Can I choose specific cuts or customise my pack?
Our online store is built around 7 curated packs — each one designed for a specific occasion, household size, or use case. The packs are fixed in composition because that’s how we control quality and consistency. We don’t substitute. We don’t swap.
If you have specific requirements, visit us in-store at Lonehill or Morningside where our butchers can assist directly.
Is there a minimum order?
Online orders are pack-based — you select from our 7 curated packs. There is no option to purchase individual cuts through the online store. If you need a single cut or a custom order, visit us in-store at Lonehill or Morningside.
What payment methods do you accept?
We accept all major credit and debit cards, instant EFT (all major banks), Capitec Pay, Nedbank Direct EFT, Apple Pay, Google Pay and Samsung Pay. Payment is processed securely at checkout via Peach Payments. Subscriptions are billed automatically through Stitch on your chosen cycle.
How fresh is the meat when it arrives? What is the shelf life?
Your order is prepared at our facility on the day of dispatch and delivered the same day via refrigerated vehicle. The meat arrives cold, never frozen, within a fully intact cold chain.
Each product carries its own shelf life, indicated on the label. Check the label on your specific cuts — it will tell you exactly what applies. As a general rule: refrigerate immediately on arrival and freeze anything you won’t use within the labelled window while the meat is still at its freshest.
What if I’m not home when my order arrives?
We’ll confirm your delivery slot in advance. If you won’t be home, please ensure someone else can receive the order, or that you have a cool box or cooler bag ready at the door. Because we use our own refrigerated vehicles and manage route schedules carefully, we cannot leave perishable product unattended.
Can I send an order to a different address as a gift?
Yes. At checkout, simply enter the recipient’s delivery address. We’ll deliver directly to them within our delivery zones. If you’d like to include a note, add it in the order notes field at checkout and we’ll include it with the box.
Can I return or exchange my order?
Due to the perishable nature of the product, we don’t accept returns. If your order arrives with a quality issue — incorrect product, damage, or a cold chain concern — contact us immediately and we will resolve it. We stand behind what we send.
Subscriptions
What is a subscription and how does it work?
You can subscribe to any of our packs on a weekly, fortnightly, or monthly cycle. Your box is prepared and delivered automatically on your chosen schedule. You can skip, pause, or cancel at any time — no lock-in, no penalty.
Subscribers receive a discount on the standard pack price, and your payment is processed automatically before each delivery.
Can I pause or cancel my subscription?
Yes. You manage your subscription directly through your account portal. Skip a delivery, pause for a period, or cancel entirely — it’s your call. We don’t make it difficult.
Can I change which pack I receive?
Yes. You can swap your pack selection through your account portal at any time before the next order processes. If you want to try a different box, change it — no need to cancel and restart.
Will my subscription price change?
We will always notify you before any price change takes effect on your subscription. You will never be charged a new price without prior notice.
Products
Do you sell biltong and drywors separately?
Yes. Biltong and drywors are available as standalone products through the online store, in addition to the curated packs where they feature as components. If you’re stocking up on snacks between box orders, you can add them individually at checkout.
Are your packs suitable for freezing?
Yes. All our packs are suitable for home freezing. If you’re not planning to use the full contents within 3–5 days of delivery, we recommend portioning and freezing on the day of arrival while the meat is at its freshest.
The Business
Where are you based?
Our processing facility and flagship butchery are in Lonehill, Johannesburg. We also have a retail store in Morningside. Online orders are fulfilled from the Lonehill facility.
Do you supply restaurants and trade customers?
Yes. Country Meat operates as both a retail and wholesale business. Our meat is supplied to restaurants and hospitality partners who require consistent quality and reliable delivery. If you’re a trade buyer, use the wholesale enquiry form on our site and we’ll be in touch.
Are you the same as The Braai Room?
The Braai Room is Country Meat’s restaurant — same ownership, same sourcing, same standards. It’s where our meat is served over fire in a space designed for people who take food seriously. If you want to experience the product before you order online, book a table.
Can I visit your butchery in person?
Yes. Both our Lonehill and Morningside stores are open to walk-in customers. Our butchers can assist with custom cuts, advice on preparation, and anything the website can’t do for you.
Packaging & Product Questions
My meat looks dark or purple in the vacuum pack. Is something wrong?
No. This is completely normal and actually a sign that the vacuum seal is intact. Fresh meat is bright red when exposed to oxygen — a process called blooming. When meat is vacuum-packed, oxygen is removed, and the meat takes on a darker purple-red colour. The moment you open the pack and the meat is exposed to air again, it will bloom back to its familiar red colour within 15–20 minutes. If anything smells off after blooming, that’s the time to be concerned — the colour alone is not.
There’s an unusual smell when I open the vacuum pack. Is the meat off?
Not necessarily. Vacuum-packed meat can develop a slightly sour or metallic smell from lactic acid that builds up in the absence of oxygen — this is a natural process, not a sign of spoilage. Remove the meat from the packaging, rinse lightly under cold water if needed, and let it rest open for 15–20 minutes. The smell should dissipate as it blooms. If the smell is strongly unpleasant after this, or if the meat feels slimy to the touch, do not use it and contact us immediately. When in doubt, reach out — we’d rather hear from you than have you eat something you’re unsure of.
Is your packaging recyclable?
The outer cardboard box is fully recyclable. The vacuum packaging on individual cuts is plastic and should be disposed of according to your local municipality’s guidelines — most kerbside recycling in Johannesburg does not accept flexible plastic, so check with your local facility. We’re working to improve the recyclability of our packaging where operationally possible without compromising the cold chain.