SA Food Heroes: Andy Fenner

In the years we’ve known Andy Fenner he’s run a design company with his wife, dabbled in property development, written about food as Jamie Who and most recently cofounded Frankie Fenner Meat Merchants. Busy bee? You bet. We caught up with him on Kloof street, Cape Town.

Sipping a flat white on a sunny Tuesday afternoon and wearing a pair of sneakers that could probably do the moon walk all by themselves, Andy took us through the blood, sweat and thinking that have led to the fruition of his dream of a fresh meat corner store.

Five years ago, he began to question the origins of the food he enjoyed and after reading the likes of Eating Animals and Omnivore’s Dilemma made a commitment to eat only ethically sourced meat: kinder to animals, better for the farming industry and much more tasty. He never looked back.

In January 2010, when the food and fashion website in which he was a partner hung up its’ boots Andy’s dream of starting his own ethical, free-range meat shop came to the fore and he began to take steps towards it, teaming up with Sean Bond (founder of vida e caffè).

A longer process than expected followed requiring visits to farms, conversations with butchers and a hunt for like-minded suppliers. It was only at the end of 2011 that the business was ready to open its doors.

How does it work?

Perhaps not the retail situation South Africans are accustomed to but well familiar to slow foodies, FFMM send a weekly mail to their community letting them know what’s available then orders are placed, paid for and collected.

As well as an interesting cut of the week which you wouldn’t find dead or alive in mainstream supermarkets they have a wide range of products (subject to availability). Nothing is frozen and the flavours are out of this world.

More South Africans are catching on to the small-batch neighbour goods phenomenon by the bite and unsurprisingly, business is booming. What did come as a surprise is the amount of walk-in trade the tucked away alley shop receives but with delicious espresso made by world famous barista, Msizi, and their deliciously stocked walk-in fridge we’d have bet our bottom dollars on their popularity with passers-by on bustling Kloof street.

Committed to spreading the message of eating proper meat Andy, his wife, Nicky, and Sean and Daniella Bond are a formidable team. We couldn’t be more pleased for them and will be watching the FFMM space with interest and admiration.

Frankie Fenner Meat Merchants | FFMM.co.za
8 Kloof Street, Cape Town
+27 (0)83 303 9797
@FrankieFenner

Opening times: Mondays – Fridays 7:30 to 17:30. Saturdays 9:00 to 13:00 and if you need a human to help you, mail [email protected].