Whether it's beef, chicken, ostrich or turkey, biltong is booming.
We all know South Africa is mad about it, but is it a profitable business?
Joubert & Monty's, based in Observatory, recently celebrated its success as the most profitable kiosk, area for area, at Cavendish Square in Claremont.
The biltong barrow at Cavendish's main entrance beat more than 200 shops in the upmarket shopping mall.
Andrew Billington, general manager of Joubert and Monty's says there may be a lot of competition, but there's enough demand to go round.
The business employs 36 people at 14 sites across the Western Cape.
"You have got to have a viable location for this business. People need to understand the needs and requirements of a retail shop.
"We look at ideas like chicken biltong and develop them. Flavouring and consistent quality make this business," Billington said.
"We are expanding our wholesale market. There was a chain of butchers, but butchers haven't been doing very well in Cape Town for a long time now. Places like Spar and Pick 'n Pay have taken that market."
Asked why the company's biltong trade continues to grow, Billington said: "It's quality of product, pure and simple."
There were ethical issues surrounding biltong, such as whether animals are grain-fed and treated properly.
There were also industry concerns to ensure hygiene at all stages of production, as well a clear wording on packets to inform consumers properly.
Brian Abdoll is the owner of Namib Biltong in Canal Walk. His shop has put in an excellent performance for its relative size.
After opening just two years ago, Namib sells a variety of biltong on the market, and has, like others, diversified into other biltongs such as chicken.
The biltong industry includes big and small players: some that are sole producers, producers and wholesalers, or producers, wholesalers and retailers.
Namib Biltong is retail only, and, as the name suggests, is dedicated to Namibian products.
Abdoll says disposable income is a factor in biltong sales, and sales increase during holidays. "We find that most of our sales are in the last week of the month and the first week of the month.
"But it's a discretionary purchase. You're not going to die if you don't have it.
"Holidays and sporting events - we sell a lot there. We supplied a few suites at Newlands during the Cricket World Cup.
"The quality of (the) product varies from shop to shop. Some don't put in the required standards."
Abdoll says success in the biltong industry is down to "your own operational efficiency".
"It's a cash business, so we're exposed to risk of theft, of course. On the retail side, there are strong players.
"To set up as a producer in the Western Cape would mean a large outlay. There is a slight gap in the producing market."
Abdoll also says products such as chicken biltong are "doing well. But our main lines are in beef biltong, that's where the
volumes are". - Cape Argus Network