Hi, I'm Byron Sampson, and biltong has been my thing for as long as I can remember.
I grew up in Port Elizabeth, now Gqeberha, and from a young age biltong was simply the tastiest thing I'd ever eaten. I'm sure plenty of South Africans will agree with me: it might just be the best thing this country has ever produced.
When birthdays and Christmas came around, my mom knew exactly what to get me. Out of everything I unwrapped, the biltong was always the gift that meant the most.
From the office to my own business
Long before Sampsons Biltong had a name, I was selling biltong to colleagues in the offices where I worked IT jobs. It taught me a lot, mostly what people love and what they don't. In 2016 I took the leap and went out on my own. I started supplying corporate companies, selling directly to customers, getting packets onto the shelves of small shops, and trading at markets and events. There was plenty of trial and error along the way, and every batch taught me something.
Pushing through
Along the way I opened my own shop. Then came COVID, load shedding and some tough economic years, and load shedding was the final nail in the coffin for the shop. A lot of small businesses didn't make it through that time. I kept going, because giving people the best biltong Cape Town and the rest of South Africa can get is what drives me. Honestly, it doesn't feel like work anymore. It's a passion I get to do every day.
Why our biltong tastes different
Good biltong starts with good beef, and there are no shortcuts. Our beef comes from the Eastern Cape, because I believe it's simply superior.
Close to 1,000 batches later, I know exactly what great biltong should be. Today our biltong is made for me by a trusted producer, exactly the way I like it and with fantastic beef. I'll always put the best product I know into your hands.
Still going
From selling to colleagues 10 years ago to delivering across South Africa today, the journey is still happening, and I've got plenty more planned. Thank you for being part of it.
– Byron
