After weeks of sizzling grills and fierce competition, the wait is finally over: the top 10 finalists in the 2025 Shoprite and Checkers Championship Boerewors Competition have been announced. These passionate cooks have mastered the perfect balance of flavour, tradition and heart to secure their place in this year’s grand finale.
By Lebogang Mashala, editor at African Farming
Now in its 34th year, the competition has grown into a significant platform, not only for celebrating South Africa’s food heritage but also for supporting local meat value chains and entrepreneurship. Since its launch in 1991, the competition has provided home cooks, butchers and food professionals with a pathway to national recognition, with the winning recipe produced at scale and sold in Shoprite and Checkers stores nationwide.
Driving Agribusiness And Local Supply
Boerewors remains one of the most popular and celebrated meat products in the country, making this competition a crucial driver of both consumer demand and butchery skills development. The exposure finalists receive often translates into opportunities in the broader food and agriculture sector, from meat processing to retail.
But the contest is more than just a search for the best recipe. It is an institution that celebrates South Africa’s rich food heritage, uniting families, friends and communities around the braai.
Meet The Top 10 Finalists
This year’s finalists reflect the diversity, creativity and spirit of the competition, representing every corner of the country and every walk of life:
- Roberto Agrela (Paarl, Western Cape) – a car salesman and first-time finalist who trusted his instincts and quality ingredients.
- Emmerencia Pretorius (Swellendam, Western Cape) – a rescue technician who calls making it into the top 10 a dream come true.
- Thandanani Buthelezi (Durban, KwaZulu-Natal) – a barista passionate about tradition.
- Tyron Adams (Wellington, Western Cape) – former title holder and professional chef aiming to reclaim the crown.
- Niekie Horn (De Aar, Northern Cape) – a safe house administrator with a flair for flavour.
- Keani van Drimmelen (Benoni, Gauteng) – a psychology graduate making her debut in the competition.
- Asheel Beharie (Ladysmith, KwaZulu-Natal) – an entrepreneur whose recipe has wowed the judges.
- Ayanda Dyanse (Humansdorp, Eastern Cape) – a meat market manager at Shoprite who knows his way around a boerewors coil.
- Roland Blaauw (Wellington, Western Cape) – an application support specialist for the Shoprite Group, competing for family pride.
- Xavier Blaauw (Wellington, Western Cape) – an 18-year-old matric learner and third-time finalist, this year competing alongside his father.
The sizzling showdown takes place on Saturday, 23 August, with finalists facing off in front of a judging panel of butchery experts and chefs from the South African Chefs Association (SACA).
The rewards are substantial:
- First Prize: a Toyota Fortuner 2.4 GD-6 RB AT plus R20 000 in cash.
- Second Prize: R50 000 cash.
- Third Prize: R30 000 cash.
Most importantly, the winning recipe will take its rightful place on Shoprite and Checkers shelves nationwide from Friday, 5 September, ready for South Africans everywhere to light the braai and taste the flavour of victory.
Finalist Roberto Agrela from Paarl in the Western Cape said boerewors is more than just a meal. “It brings families and friends together, especially around the braai.”“Boerewors is a South African tradition. It connects us across all backgrounds,” said finalist Thandanani Buthelezi from Durban in KwaZulu-Natal.
