Original Beef Chief

Original Beef Chief: Australian meat snacks with an authentic chew

Original Beef Chief is an Australian company dedicated to making beef snacks, with a proposition that deliberately sets itself apart from the soft, sugary jerky usually found in supermarkets. Its catalogue is built around four product families — beef jerky, biltong, fatty biltong and droewors — and a wide range of flavours numbering more than forty. The company presents itself as a business founded by a veteran and backed by more than 70,000 customers across Australia, with over 5,000 verified five-star reviews.

Four snack styles, one and the same beef base

All products start with Australian grass-fed beef. The difference between them lies in the cut, the drying process and the final texture:

• Beef jerky: marinated, extra dry, tough and slow-smoked the authentic way. It is described as a snack with a firm, resilient chew, designed for those looking for the classic jerky texture.
• Biltong: softer, naturally cured and air-dried. It is presented as the “cousin” of beef jerky, with a drying process that results in a more tender snack but one that is equally rich in protein.
• Fatty biltong: made in authentic South African style, with maximum marbling. The fat is left in the meat, which provides a softer chew, a more intense flavour and a texture that melts in the mouth. The company describes it as the middle ground between firm jerky and drier lean biltong.
• Droewors: air-dried beef sausage sticks spiced with coriander, South African in style and made in Australia.

Flavours and formats available

The flavour catalogue is extensive and is repeated across the different product families. Among the beef jerky varieties are Ragin Cajun, Smokey BBQ, Bourbon BBQ, Loaded Gunpowder, Chargrilled Chilli BBQ, Honey Soy Drizzle, Cracked Black Pepper and Creeping Reaper. In biltong and fatty biltong, Traditional, BBQ, Campfire, Chilli BBQ, Chilli Lime, Chipotle, Garlic, Gunpowder, Lemon Pepper, Peri Peri, Reaper, Salt and Vinegar and Teriyaki are added, among others. The company also sells mixed packs and bulk formats, such as the Bulk Biltong Mixed Pack and the Bulk Fatty Biltong Mixed Pack.

In addition to individual bags, the shop offers tasting and gift packs. The most notable is The Chief's Pack, presented as the brand's all-time bestseller: it includes eight beef jerky flavours in formats ranging from 240 g (eight 30 g bags) to 4 kg (sixteen 250 g bags). There are also equivalent versions for biltong and fatty biltong, such as The Chief's Biltong Pack and The Chief's Fatty Biltong Pack. Prices for individual bags start at AUD 7.99, while large packs start at AUD 54.99.

Differentiation from supermarket jerky

The company insists on a technical distinction: sugar retains water in the meat, so a product with more moisture can weigh the same but contain less actual meat per bite. According to the comparative data it publishes, its 100 g beef jerky provides 51 g of protein and 2 g of sugar, compared with 34 g of protein and 21.6 g of sugar in a leading supermarket brand. The Original Beef Chief style is described as thick-cut with a firm chew, while the supermarket style is said to be thin, soft and sweet. The company attributes the characteristic flavour and texture of its products to this difference in process and formulation.

Awards and backing

Original Beef Chief presents itself as a multi-award-winning brand. Specifically, it states that it has won 53 awards at the Sydney Fine Food Show in the last two years. The company has more than 5,000 verified five-star reviews and claims to have served more than 70,000 customers across Australia. Among the figures and organisations that back it, it mentions Pro Bull Riding Australia, 4WD247, Isaac Butterfield and Allan Border.

Beyond snacks: rubs, merchandise and other products

Its commercial activity is not limited to meat snacks. The shop includes a line of BBQ rubs based on its most popular flavours, as well as dog treats, event gift bags (showbags) and merchandise covering stubby coolers, caps, beanies, BBQ aprons and stickers. The company also offers shipping to Australia and New Zealand, with prices in Australian and New Zealand dollars respectively.