Just when you thought you’d seen it all! A proudly South African dish known as “walkie-talkies” can now be enjoyed from a can.
THIS GENIUS IDEA WAS REARED TO LIFE IN 2020
For those who do not know what walkie-talkies are, it is chicken feet, heads, necks, and giblets are sold as affordable street food available across the country.
According to a report by Business Insider, this genius idea was created by 26-year-old Eiren Drake and his late grandfather Spencer Drake. The two started constructing a canning plant in Tzaneen in 2017.
“As a young boy, I spent a significant amount of time with my late grandfather’s employees, whose children were my friends and playmates,” said Eiren.
HE SAID IT IS STILL ONE OF HIS FAVOURITE MEALS
He said he was first introduced to the widely loved and consumed dish of chicken feet, which very quickly became one of his favourite meals, and it still is today.
The plant reared to life in 2020, just as the Covid-19 pandemic impacted South Africa. Its flagship product line, under the Tin Stuf brand, was produced that same year and sold directly through its website, WhatsApp, and Facebook page.
Just two months after Tin Stuf launched its website and its brand of canned chicken feet and necks started gaining attention, Eiren’s grandfather, and canning factory cofounder, Spencer, tragically passed away.
THE WALKIE-TALKIES IN CANS BEGAN APPEARING AT SEVERAL OUTLETS
“The unexpected passing of my business partner, investor, life coach, mentor, and beloved grandfather was, and has since been, by far the most difficult challenge that I’ve had to mitigate,” said Eiren.
A year after the tragedy, Tin Stuf products began appearing at several outlets in the Eastern Cape and Western Cape after the Limpopo canning factory received its Food Safety Certificate from the retailer.
To make this even better, the publication reported that it’s also promising for the canning factory, which currently employs 35 people per production. Some of the employees are the same friends who introduced Eiren to the street food of chicken feet and necks as a child.
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