'Walkie talkies' in multi-million rand China deal bagged by Cape Town entrepreneur

Lester Kiewit speaks to Cape Town entrepreneur, Carla Kote, the owner of a company that has secured a deal to export 540 tons of chicken feet to China a month. The deal is worth about R300 million a year.

A multi-million rand deal negotiated with the help of a Cape Town entrepreneur looks set to send a South African mealtime favourite to China.

Mitchells Plain-based entrepreneur Carla Kote helped put the landmark deal together which will see 540 tons of chicken feet delivered to China every month.

"They import most of their chicken supply... they've been importing their chicken feet from Brazil and the US."

- Carla Kote, CEO - AskCarlaKote

Kote explains how predominantly female-owned poultry farms in the Western Cape and Mpumalanga are involved.

"I looked at a small farmer initially because the label came on board...and she engaged with mostly female broilers and that's how our presentation was created for China."

- Carla Kote, CEO - AskCarlaKote

The deal, worth R300 million per year, is supported by the collaboration of  Wesgro, the Official Tourism, Trade and Investment Promotion Agency for Cape Town and the Western Cape, as well as Standard Bank.

It has the potential to generate up to 3000 jobs throughout the entire value chain. 

Chicken feet, otherwise known as walkie talkies, maotwana, amanqina enkukhu, or runaways are a much-loved South African delicacy and can be prepared, fried, braaied, curried or stewed.