The May 2026 butchery survey shows that Elmo’s Butchery offered the most affordable Economic Meat Basket at N$699.65, closely followed by Klein Windhoek Slagtery at N$702.55.
Meanwhile, Hartlief recorded the lowest A-Grade Meat Basket at N$1,847.95, making it the most cost-effective option for premium meat cuts.
Overall, pricing remained competitive across retailers, although notable differences in key products such as steak cuts, mince, boerewors, and pork chops continued to influence basket costs.
Economic Meat Basket
The May 2026 Economic Meat Basket results indicate that Elmo’s Butchery (Khomasdal) offered the most affordable basket among the surveyed butchers, with a total cost of N$699.65. This was closely followed by Klein Windhoek Slagtery at N$702.55 and Ready Bites (Southern Industry) at N$730.00. Hartlief recorded a basket cost of N$892.93, while Eros Meat Market remained the most expensive option at N$951.00.
Elmo’s strong performance was supported by highly competitive pricing across several popular household cuts, including beef stew, brisket, budget beef cuts, and pork chops. The retailer consistently ranked among the cheapest suppliers in most categories, making it the most economical option for consumers seeking value-oriented meat purchases.
Economic Basket Highlights
- Liver: Lowest price at Ready Bites (N$68.00/kg), closely followed by Klein Windhoek Slagtery.
- Beef Stew: Elmo’s offered the lowest price at N$79.95/kg.
- Ground Beef Mince: Ready Bites was the most affordable at N$89.00/kg.
- Homemade Boerewors: Klein Windhoek Slagtery recorded the lowest price at N$69.00/kg.
- Brisket: Elmo’s offered the lowest price at N$95.95/kg.
- Budget Beef Cuts: Elmo’s remained the cheapest at N$110.95/kg.
- Pork Chops: Elmo’s offered the lowest price at N$114.95/kg.
A-Grade Meat Basket
The May 2026 A-Grade Meat Basket comparison shows that Hartlief offered the most affordable premium meat basket at N$1,847.95, followed by Ready Bites at N$1,896.00. Klein Windhoek Slagtery and Eros Meat Market recorded basket totals of N$1,959.05 and N$1,966.00, respectively.
Hartlief’s leading position was driven by competitive pricing across several premium cuts, including T-bone, rump steak, fillet, oxtail, and lean mince. The retailer managed to maintain lower prices in many of the higher-value categories that typically have the greatest influence on total basket costs.
A-Grade Basket Highlights
- T-Bone Steak: Hartlief recorded the lowest price at N$199.99/kg.
- Rump Steak: Eros Meat Market offered the lowest price at N$225.00/kg.
- Sirloin Steak: Ready Bites provided the most competitive price at N$207.00/kg.
- Rib-Eye Steak: Ready Bites offered the lowest price at N$204.00/kg.
- Lamb Whole Cap: Ready Bites and Klein Windhoek Slagtery jointly recorded the lowest price at N$126.00/kg.
- Lean Mince: Hartlief was the cheapest at N$114.00/kg.
- Beef Fillet: Klein Windhoek Slagtery offered the lowest price at N$333.39/kg.
- Silverside: Klein Windhoek Slagtery recorded the lowest price at N$143.63/kg.
- Oxtail: Klein Windhoek Slagtery offered the lowest price at N$183.89/kg.
Conclusion & Consumer Takeaway
The May 2026 butchery survey highlights that consumers can achieve meaningful savings by comparing prices across retailers. Elmo’s Butchery offered the most affordable Economic Meat Basket, making it the preferred option for cost-conscious households purchasing everyday meat products. In contrast, Hartlief provided the best value in the A-Grade Basket, offering the lowest overall cost for premium cuts.
While no single retailer was the cheapest across all product categories, the results demonstrate that shopping based on specific product needs can lead to significant savings. Additionally, regular price comparisons remain an effective way for households to manage their food expenditure.
