Meat in South Africa

April 2026

In 2025, South Africa’s meat industry faced ongoing supply disruptions and rising affordability pressures. Disease outbreaks, such as foot-and-mouth and avian influenza, alongside drought and higher feed costs, constrained supply and drove up prices. As a result, consumers reduced at-home meat consumption, traded down to cheaper cuts, or shifted to more affordable proteins like eggs and pulses. Overall, meat consumption trends were shaped by high prices, supply volatility, and changing consumer

USD 1,195
Request More Information

Delivery:

Files are delivered directly into your account soon after payment is received and any tax is certification is verified (where applicable).

This report comes in PDF with additional info in Excel included.

Overview:

Understand the latest market trends and future growth opportunities for the Meat industry in South Africa with research from Euromonitor International's team of in-country analysts – experts by industry and geographic specialisation.

Key trends are clearly and succinctly summarised alongside the most current research data available. Understand and assess competitive threats and plan corporate strategy with our qualitative analysis, insight and confident growth projections.

If you're in the Meat industry in South Africa, our research will help you to make informed, intelligent decisions; to recognise and profit from opportunity, or to offer resilience amidst market uncertainty.

The Meat in South Africa report includes:

  • Analysis of key supply-side and demand trends
  • Detailed segmentation of international and local products
  • Historic volume and value sizes
  • Five year forecasts of market trends and market growth
  • Robust and transparent research methodology, conducted in-country

This report answers:

  • What is the market size of Meat in South Africa?
  • What is the impact of commodity price fluctuations on local production and consumption?
  • What are the key campaigns or legislation driving Meat sales?
  • How are consumer attitudes towards fresh food evolving?
  • How significant is health and wellness in shaping consumer demand?
  • Where is future growth expected to be most dynamic?

Meat in South Africa - Category analysis

KEY DATA FINDINGS

Affordability concerns, convenience and product quality influence purchasing decisions
Impact of supply-side disruptions and affordability pressures
Meat consumption shaped by affordability concerns, supply volatility and evolving consumer preferences
Improved outlook with government and industry efforts to stabilise supply and curb disease outbreaks
Cost concerns, health awareness and convenience influence consumption patterns
Summary 1 Major Processors of Meat 2025
Table 1 Total Sales of Meat by Category: Total Volume 2020-2025
Table 2 Total Sales of Meat by Category: % Total Volume Growth 2020-2025
Table 3 Retail Sales of Meat by Category: Volume 2020-2025
Table 4 Retail Sales of Meat by Category: % Volume Growth 2020-2025
Table 5 Retail Sales of Meat by Category: Value 2020-2025
Table 6 Retail Sales of Meat by Category: % Value Growth 2020-2025
Table 7 Retail Sales of Meat by Packaged vs Unpackaged: % Volume 2020-2025
Table 8 Forecast Sales of Meat by Category: Total Volume 2025-2030
Table 9 Forecast Sales of Meat by Category: % Total Volume Growth 2025-2030
Table 10 Forecast Retail Sales of Meat by Category: Volume 2025-2030
Table 11 Forecast Retail Sales of Meat by Category: % Volume Growth 2025-2030
Table 12 Forecast Retail Sales of Meat by Category: Value 2025-2030
Table 13 Forecast Retail Sales of Meat by Category: % Value Growth 2025-2030

Fresh Food in South Africa - Industry Overview

Growth increasingly constrained by acute supply-side pressures

KEY DATA FINDINGS

Affordability and heightened health awareness influence consumers’ choices
Increasingly polarised market
Modest growth, with several challenges remaining prevalent
Home cooking will continue to underpin demand for fresh food
Supermarkets lead, offering broad assortments, competitive pricing and convenience
Flexibility, convenience and familiarity support small local grocers’ strong footfall
Table 14 Total Sales of Fresh Food by Category: Total Volume 2020-2025
Table 15 Total Sales of Fresh Food by Category: % Total Volume Growth 2020-2025
Table 16 Retail Sales of Fresh Food by Category: Volume 2020-2025
Table 17 Retail Sales of Fresh Food by Category: % Volume Growth 2020-2025
Table 18 Retail Sales of Fresh Food by Category: Value 2020-2025
Table 19 Retail Sales of Fresh Food by Category: % Value Growth 2020-2025
Table 20 Retail Sales of Fresh Food by Packaged vs Unpackaged: % Volume 2020-2025
Table 21 Retail Distribution of Fresh Food by Format: % Volume 2020-2025
Table 22 Forecast Total Sales of Fresh Food by Category: Total Volume 2025-2030
Table 23 Forecast Total Sales of Fresh Food by Category: % Total Volume Growth 2025-2030
Table 24 Forecast Retail Sales of Fresh Food by Category: Volume 2025-2030
Table 25 Forecast Retail Sales of Fresh Food by Category: % Volume Growth 2025-2030
Table 26 Forecast Retail Sales of Fresh Food by Category: Value 2025-2030
Table 27 Forecast Retail Sales of Fresh Food by Category: % Value Growth 2025-2030

COUNTRY REPORTS DISCLAIMER

Summary 2 Research Sources
The following categories and subcategories are included:

Meat

  • Beef and Veal
  • Lamb, Mutton and Goat
  • Pork
  • Poultry
  • Other Meat

Meat

This is the aggregation of beef & veal, lamb, mutton & goat, pork, poultry and other meat. Only include fresh, raw, uncooked and unprocessed meat whether packaged or unpackaged, chilled or frozen. All industrially packaged/processed meat products typically sold via the self-service counters in retail outlets are excluded. This category does not cover offal, animal fat, skins and hides.

See all of our definitions
Share:

Why buy this report?

  • Gain competitive intelligence about market leaders
  • Track key industry trends, opportunities and threats
  • Inform your marketing, brand, strategy and market development, sales and supply functions

This report originates from Passport, our Meat research and analysis database.

NEW REPORT GUARANTEE

If you purchase a report that is updated in the next 60 days, we will send you the new edition and data extraction Free!