You’re broke. You need cash. And you’re thinking about selling food because you know people always need to eat.
Good. That’s smart thinking.
But here’s the problem: most people overthink this. T
hey want fancy recipes, expensive equipment, or some magic business plan that doesn’t exist. Meanwhile, street vendors across South Africa are making R30,000+ per month selling vetkoek from a single pot.
The truth?
The easy food to sell to make money in South Africa isn’t complicated. It’s about picking something with high demand, low startup costs, and solid profit margins. Then executing like your rent depends on it (because it probably does).
Let me show you exactly what works.
TL;DR: List of Easy Foods You Can Sell To Make Money in South Africa
If you want to start making money from food TODAY, here are your best bets:
| # | Food Item | Best Selling Location | Startup Cost | Why it works |
| 1 | Magwinya (Vetkoek) | Taxi ranks, schools, street corners | Very Low | A staple breakfast/snack; highly addictive and cheap to make. |
| 2 | Kota (Bunny Chow) | Townships, student areas | Medium | High demand for “filling” meals; easy to customize with chips/polony. |
| 3 | Boerewors Rolls | Hardware stores, markets, events | Low | The “national smell” of SA; high margins and very quick to serve. |
| 4 | Biltong & Dröewors | Gyms, offices, online | Medium | High-value product; long shelf life and popular as a healthy snack. |
| 5 | Samoosas | Office parks, street markets | Low | Can be sold frozen or fried; easy to make in large batches. |
| 6 | Pap & Vleis (Shisanyama) | Industrial sites, busy street corners | Medium | A hearty lunch favorite for workers; relies on good fire/braai skills. |
| 7 | Homemade Rusks | Coffee shops, local markets | Low | Long shelf life; South Africans love dunking rusks year-round. |
| 8 | Popcorn (Gourmet) | Schools, parks, flea markets | Very Low | Massive profit margins; easy to add flavors like “fruit chutney” or “caramel.” |
| 9 | Milk Tarts | Community groups, WhatsApp orders | Low | A nostalgic favorite; simple ingredients (milk, eggs, flour). |
| 10 | Chicken Wings/Feet | Street stalls, “drive-thru” spots | Low | “Walkie Talkies” are popular, low-cost protein snacks. |
| 11 | Fruit Salad Cups | Office blocks, gyms, taxi ranks | Low | Rising demand for healthy, “on-the-go” snacks in 2026. |
| 12 | Pancakes (Pannekoek) | School events, church bazaars | Very Low | Ingredients are staples; high profit for cinnamon and sugar. |
| 13 | Hot Chips (Slap Chips) | Near schools and shops | Medium | Everyone loves fresh chips; easy to scale up. |
| 14 | Koeksisters | Sunday markets, online | Low | A sweet treat that people are willing to pay a premium for. |
| 15 | Chili Sauce (Atchar) | Door-to-door, spaza shops | Low | High shelf life; “homemade” atchar is always preferred over bulk. |
| 16 | Muffins & Cupcakes | Schools, offices | Low | Easy to transport; great for morning tea breaks. |
| 17 | Smoothies/Juices | Near parks or fitness centers | Medium | Modern “wellness” trend; high perceived value. |
| 18 | Pre-packed Sandwiches | Near office buildings (7am–9am) | Low | Convenience is king for commuters who forgot breakfast. |
| 19 | Roasted Peanuts | Street corners, traffic lights | Very Low | Simple to prepare; sold in small, affordable packets. |
| 20 | Frozen Cookie Dough | Online, social media | Low | Growing trend; people want the “fresh bake” smell without the work. |
Highest profit with lowest startup: Vetkoek/Amagwinya (40% margins, R1,000-R3,000 to start), Kota (R10,000-R20,000 to start, high volume sales), Frozen treats (R2,000-R5,000 to start, especially in summer).
Best for school tuckshops: Savoury pies, chips/crisps, popcorn, biltong, ice lollies.
Township economy winners: Boerewors rolls, bunny chow, amagwinya with atchar, Russian sausage with chips.
Home business with scaling potential: Baked goods, meal prep containers, biltong production.
Start where you are. Use what you have. Scale when you’re profitable. That’s it.
1. Vetkoek (Amagwinya)
Let’s start with the heavyweight champion of profitable food to sell in South Africa.
Vetkoek (or amagwinya if you’re in the townships) is deep-fried dough bread. That’s it. Flour, yeast, oil, salt. Four ingredients that print money when you know what you’re doing.
The numbers: One vendor in downtown Joburg sells 3,000 vetkoek at R1 each with a 40% margin. That’s R30,000+ monthly profit from standing on a street corner. Another vendor across the street sells 6,000 daily.
Startup cost: R1,000-R3,000 (pot, gas stove, ingredients, plastic bags)
Time investment: 2-3 hours prep, 4-6 hours selling
Everyone eats vetkoek. School kids grabbing breakfast. Workers rushing to taxi ranks at 6am. People want it with mince, polony, cheese, or atchar. The demand never stops.
Pro tip: Location is everything. Set up near taxi ranks, schools, or busy pedestrian areas. Start at 3am if you’re serious about volume. The early morning crowd has money and hunger.
2. Kota: The Ultimate Street Food Business Idea SA
A kota (or bunny chow) is a hollowed-out loaf of bread stuffed with chips, polony, cheese, Russian sausage, and atchar. It’s portable. It’s filling. And South Africans love it.
The numbers: R10-R25 per kota, costs R5-R12 to make
Startup cost: R10,000-R20,000 (permits, ingredients, packaging, small setup)
Time investment: 4-8 hours daily
High volume potential. One kota business near taxi ranks can sell 100-200+ daily. It’s the fast food of the township economy. Plus, you can customize fillings based on what your customers want.
Pro tip: Don’t compete on price alone. Win by being consistent, fast, and open when others aren’t. Late night kotas near nightlife spots? That’s a goldmine.
3. Frozen Treats and Ice Lollies
Summer in South Africa is brutal. People need to cool down. And they’ll pay for it.
Make your own ice lollies (juice, fruit, yogurt-based) or buy wholesale and resell. Either works.
The numbers: Iced popsicles sell 40+ units per school per day. Street price R2-R5 each. Cost to make: R0.50-R2.
Startup cost: R2,000-R5,000 (freezer access, molds or wholesale purchase, cooler box)
Time investment: 2-4 hours prep, flexible selling hours
High margins. Low competition in many areas. Parents buy for kids. Workers buy during lunch. It’s an impulse purchase people make when it’s hot.
Pro tip: Focus on schools during break time and sports events. Get creative with flavors using local fruits (mango, litchi, granadilla). Natural fruit options sell better to health-conscious parents.
4. Boerewors Rolls: Weekend Gold
Boerewors rolls are a South African braai staple. Set up at markets, sports events, or festivals and watch people line up.
The numbers: R20-R35 per roll, R8-R15 cost
Startup cost: R5,000-R10,000 (portable braai, quality meat, rolls, condiments)
Time investment: Weekends mainly, 4-8 hours per event
This is emotional eating. People associate boerewors with good times. Events mean people are already spending money. The smell alone sells it.
Pro tip: Quality matters here. Don’t cheap out on the boerewors. Partner with local butchers for consistent supply. Show up early to events to claim the best spot.
5. Baked Goods (Especially for School Tuckshops)
Brownies, muffins, donuts, pies, sausage rolls. These sell like crazy at school tuckshops.
The numbers: Research shows 77% of tuckshops stock these items. Margins range from 50-70%.
Startup cost: R3,000-R8,000 (home oven use, baking supplies, packaging)
Time investment: 3-5 hours baking, 1-2 hours delivery
Why it works: You can bake from home. Low overhead. You’re selling to a captive audience (kids at school). And if you get a tuckshop contract, you have predictable recurring revenue.
Pro tip: Start with one or two schools. Deliver fresh daily. Once you prove reliability, tuckshops will give you standing orders. That’s when you scale production.
6. Biltong
South Africans are obsessed with biltong. It’s shelf-stable, high-margin, and you can make it at home.
The numbers: 78% of tuckshops stock biltong. Street price R80-R150 per 100g. Production cost R40-R70 per 100g.
Startup cost: R1,000-R5,000 (biltong dryer, quality meat, spices)
Time investment: 4-7 days drying time, minimal active work
Long shelf life means less waste. High perceived value. You can sell at markets, sports events, online, or to spaza shops. Multiple revenue channels.
Pro tip: Perfect your recipe first. Biltong quality separates amateurs from professionals. Experiment with game meat (ostrich, kudu) for premium pricing.
7. Ready-Made Meals and Meal Prep
Busy families and workers need food. They don’t have time to cook. You solve that problem.
The numbers: R95+ per meal, R25+ profit per meal. Selling to 8 families daily (4 meals each, 5 days/week) = R16,000+ monthly profit.
Startup cost: R5,000-R10,000 (containers, ingredients, marketing)
Time investment: 4-6 hours cooking, packaging, delivery
Why it works: Recurring revenue. Once you lock in customers, they order weekly. You control quality, portions, and margins. It’s a real business, not just a hustle.
Pro tip: Start with friends, family, and neighbours. Get testimonials. Focus on one or two signature dishes you can make in bulk. Think pap and vleis, curry and rice, or hearty stews.
8. Savoury Pies and Hot Food
Research shows savoury pies are the number one lunch item at schools, selling 43+ units per day at some locations.
The numbers: R10-R20 per pie, R4-R8 cost
Startup cost: R4,000-R8,000 (ingredients, pie makers or buy wholesale, warming equipment)
Time investment: 3-5 hours prep and selling
Why it works: High demand at schools, offices, and street corners. Quick to heat and serve. People eat them for breakfast and lunch. Two peak selling times daily.
Pro tip: Keep them warm. Cold pies don’t sell. Invest in a small warmer or insulated container. Target office buildings during lunch rush.
9. Popcorn (Flavoured)
82% of private school tuckshops stock popcorn. It’s one of the most popular snacks to sell at school SA locations.
The numbers: R5-R15 per packet, R1-R3 cost
Startup cost: R2,000-R5,000 (popcorn machine or large pot, kernels, seasonings, packaging)
Time investment: 2-4 hours prep and selling
Why it works: Insane margins. Low cost. You can flavour it (cheese, caramel, peri-peri) to stand out. Smells amazing and attracts customers. Kids and adults buy it.
Pro tip: Get creative with seasonings. Peri-peri popcorn, BBQ, cheese, even sweet-and-salty combos. Pre-package in clear bags so customers see the quality. Sell at movies, markets, school events.
10. Russian Sausage and Chips
The combo that built the township economy. Simple, filling, affordable.
The numbers: R15-R30 per serving, R6-R12 cost
Startup cost: R5,000-R10,000 (fryer, sausages, chips, condiments)
Time investment: 4-8 hours daily
Why it works: Universally loved. Quick to prepare. Works for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. You can operate from a spaza shop, street corner, or small container.
Pro tip: The secret is in the sauce. Develop your own atchar or sauce recipe that keeps people coming back. Consistency matters more than anything else.
What You Need to Know Before You Start
Here’s what nobody tells you about selling food in South Africa:
1. You need permits. Business license and Certificate of Acceptability from your municipality. Don’t skip this. One shutdown costs you more than the permits.
2. Location beats everything. The best food at the wrong location makes zero money. High foot traffic areas win. Always.
3. Volume is your friend. Low margins work when you sell hundreds of units daily. That R1 vetkoek becomes R3,000 when you sell 3,000 of them.
4. Start costs matter less than you think. You can start most of these businesses with under R10,000. Some (like vetkoek) need under R3,000. Your execution matters more than your capital.
5. Time is everything. Show up when others don’t. 3am for breakfast vendors. Late night for kota stands near nightlife. Weekends for events. Your schedule determines your income.
The Hard Truth About Making Money From Food
Most people fail not because their food is bad. They fail because they quit before the money shows up.
The first month? You’ll barely break even. The second month? Maybe a small profit. By month three, if you’re consistent, you start seeing real money.
This isn’t passive income. This is active hustle. You’re trading time and effort for cash. But it works. And it scales if you do it right.
Pick ONE item from this list. Not three. Not five. One.
Master it. Build demand. Then expand.
That vetkoek vendor making R30,000/month started with one pot and a dream. The kota business started with one location. The meal prep entrepreneur started with three families.
They all started where you are right now: broke, hungry, and ready to work.
The question is: are you?
Now go make some money.
Read also:
- 7 Websites That Pay You Money Instantly in South Africa
- How Long Does Alibaba Take to Deliver to South Africa? (And How to Speed it Up)
