Chicken Specials This Week: How to Buy Chicken Smartly When Prices Keep Climbing
Quick answer: Chicken is the protein South African families rely on most, and the Household Affordability Index reported frozen chicken portions rising again between December 2025 and January 2026. Weekly chicken specials appear in supermarket catalogues and apps, but the price on the tag matters less than the price per kilogram of edible meat, so compare per kilogram, check the weight after thawing and watch the brine or "water added" label. We do not quote current prices because they change weekly and the retail prices we found were undated.
' 'Last updated: October 2026. Facts come from AllAfrica's report on the Household Affordability Index (10 February 2026), Scrolla (the April 2026 index and cheaper cuts), Supermarket.co.za (Stats SA meat inflation), the Citizen and BusinessTech chicken price coverage. Prices in an undated Briefly piece are likely out of date and are not repeated as current.
' 'What the data says about chicken and meat prices
'| Finding | Source and caution |
|---|---|
| Frozen chicken portions rose again from December 2025 to January 2026 | Household Affordability Index, as reported by AllAfrica on 10 February 2026 |
| Families rely on chicken more than any other protein | Same AllAfrica report |
| Cheaper cuts such as tripe, gizzards and chicken feet rose faster than most foods; tripe up 65% year on year; one 2 kg portion of beef tripe cost R78.94 in April 2025 | April 2026 index as reported by Scrolla |
| Meat prices up 11.3% year on year in August against 2.8% for seafood | Stats SA CPI, reported by Supermarket.co.za; the report did not state the year in the snippet we saw, so confirm before quoting |
| Food inflation reported at 4.4% | FNB commentary; the month was not confirmed |
The practical message is not that chicken is expensive everywhere, but that the cheaper end of the meat aisle has become pricier relative to wages, so the way you buy matters.
' 'The right way to compare chicken
'- '
- Price per kilogram. Divide the price by the weight on the pack. '
- Edible yield. Bone-in portions, wings and drumsticks weigh more because of bone. Boneless breast costs more per kilogram but wastes less. '
- Water or brine. Check the label. Added water or brine adds weight that you pay for. '
- Frozen versus fresh. Frozen bags are usually cheaper per kilogram but need freezer space and time to thaw. '
- Pack size. A 5 kg bag is cheaper per kilogram only if you will use all of it. '
Worked example
'The numbers below are invented to show the method, not real prices. A 5 kg frozen bag of mixed portions at R225 is R45 per kilogram. Fresh braai packs at R65 per kilogram are R20 per kilogram dearer. But if the frozen bag has 15% bone and ice glaze, you get roughly 4.25 kg of usable weight, which makes the true cost about R53 per usable kilogram.
'| Option (invented numbers) | Price | Pack weight | Price per kg | Usable weight (est.) | Cost per usable kg |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frozen mixed portions | R225 | 5 kg | R45.00 | 4.25 kg | R52.94 |
| Fresh braai pack | R65 | 1 kg | R65.00 | 0.85 kg | R76.47 |
| Boneless breast fillets | R95 | 1 kg | R95.00 | 1.00 kg | R95.00 |
Usable weights are assumptions. Weigh a portion yourself to learn the real figure for the brands you buy.
' 'Where chicken specials appear
'| Source | Notes |
|---|---|
| Shoprite, Checkers and Usave | Xtra Savings member prices; check dates |
| Pick n Pay and Boxer | Smart Shopper offers and value pricing |
| SPAR | Regional leaflets; independent stores differ |
| Butcheries and wholesalers | Bulk packs; ask about hygiene and cold chain |
| Local chicken farms and distributors | Often cheaper but check registration and storage |
Food safety rules to follow
'- '
- Keep chicken refrigerated at 5 degrees Celsius or lower and frozen at minus 18. '
- Thaw in the fridge, not on the counter. '
- Never refreeze chicken that has thawed at room temperature. '
- Cook until the juices run clear and the meat has no pink; the safe internal temperature is 74 degrees Celsius. '
- During load shedding, keep the freezer closed and use frozen items first if a long outage is announced. '
Stretching a chicken budget
'- '
- Buy whole chickens and portion them yourself; use the carcass for stock. '
- Mix chicken with beans, lentils or vegetables to stretch meals. '
- Plan three chicken meals a week and use leftovers for lunch. '
- Compare prices of wings, thighs and drumsticks because they often differ more than breast. '
Pros and cons of chasing chicken specials
'Pros
'- '
- Chicken is a versatile and relatively affordable protein. '
- Bulk specials can lower the cost per kilogram. '
Cons
'- '
- Freezer space and electricity cuts limit stockpiling. '
- Brine and bone change the real price. '
- Prices change weekly. '
Frequently asked questions
'Are chicken prices going up?
'The Household Affordability Index reported frozen chicken portions rising again between December 2025 and January 2026.
'What is the cheapest chicken cut?
'It changes, and cheaper offal cuts have risen sharply; compare per kilogram and per usable kilogram.
'Is frozen chicken as good as fresh?
'It can be, if stored and thawed properly.
'How long can I freeze chicken?
'Raw chicken keeps its quality for several months at minus 18 degrees Celsius; label bags with dates.
' 'Sources
'- '
- AllAfrica: South Africa chicken prices rise again as families rely on it more than any other protein (10 February 2026) '
- Scrolla: high prices for tripe and chicken feet crush poor families '
- Supermarket.co.za: meat prices nearly double in a decade '
- Food Business MEA: South Africa's meat prices spike as food inflation holds at 4.4% '
