15 August 2023
The annual search for South Africa’s tastiest boerewors is heating up with the announcement of this year’s top 10 finalists in the Shoprite and Checkers Championship Boerewors Competition.
These master boerewors makers impressed an expert panel of judges from the South African Chefs Association (SACA) over multiple rounds to earn their spot in the finale.
Chef and entrepreneur, Tyron Adams, spent more than a year researching the requirements and developing a recipe with a flavour combination worthy of placing him amongst the top ten finalists in this year's Shoprite and Checkers Championship Boerewors Competition.
Next the finalists will prepare and cook their boerewors for judges Zola Nene, Jeff Schueremans, James Khoza, and Carmen Niehaus at a special event in Cape Town on Saturday, 26 August 2023. The winner will be declared on the day and will take home incredible prizes – including a brand-new Toyota Fortuner – and the coveted title of 2023 Boerewors Champion.
The winning recipe will also be for sale in Shoprite and Checkers stores nationwide from 8 September 2023.
Inspired to share her boerewors recipe with all South Africans, first time entrant and Rainbow Park resident Mshasheni Mabotja, an aspirant spice and sauce entrepreneur plans to use the winnings as a cash injection to start her business.
The top 10 finalists in no particular order:
- Mshasheni Mabotja from Polokwane, Limpopo
- Olivier Kritzinger from Joubertina, Eastern Cape
- Tyron Adams from Wellington, Western Cape
- Xavier Blaauw from Wellington, Western Cape
- Connie Viljoen from Richards Bay, KwaZulu-Natal
- Roy Erasmus from Newcastle, KwaZulu-Natal
- Roland Blaauw from Wellington, Western Cape
- Gustav Piek from Wellington, Western Cape
- Yvonne Blaauw from Wellington, Western Cape
- Eddie Hawkes from Brackenfell, Western Cape
The prizes:
1st Prize: Toyota Fortuner and R20 000 cash
2nd Prize: R50 000 cash
3rd Prize: R30 000 cash
Some of this year's Championship Boerewors finalists include:
Richards Bay resident, Constand Viljoen, says that as a butcher, having the best boerewors gives you bragging rights, and winning the Championship Boerewors competition and having his name tied to the best boerewors in the country is any butcher’s dream.
Gustav Piek, an IT Operations Manager, has been following the competition for over 10 years and had entered three times before making this year’s top ten.
Newcastle butchery manager, Roy Erasmus, first entered in 2002, again in 2011, and every year since, before finally earning a top ten spot this year’s competition. He continued refining and improving his recipe over the years and he claims that getting to the finale is confirmation that this is his best recipe yet.
Brackenfell resident Eddie Hawkes has been chasing his dream of making the country's best boerewors for 14 years, and has now finally been named as a top ten finalist in the Shoprite and Checkers Championship Boerewors Competition.