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Dootsa research catalog
Study description for citation, Dataset Search, and secondary analysis of aggregate tables. View article
South Africa has the second-best burger in the world — and a panel that still flinches at the price. Across 400 completed responses, taste wins the reason but price wins the moment: 69.5% say taste and quality is why they chose their favourite brand, while the same panel scores price's influence at a mean of 82.7 out of 100. This is a market at a crossroads where affordability and pride collide.
Dootsa surveyed 400 registered South African panel members between 13 August and 9 October 2026 (58 calendar days) using a 28-question CAWI instrument covering burger brand repertoire, favourite brand, price and local-pride sliders, patty preference, topping choice, loyalty and switching, and forward expectations. The instrument took a median of 5 minutes to complete, and all 400 starts converted to completions. All figures are aggregate and rounded; because this is an opt-in panel rather than a probability sample, no margin of error is quoted.
Sample composition (aggregate % of completed respondents with the attribute on file). age range: 25-34 43.8%; 18-24 31.3%; 35-44 18%; 45-54 3.5%. gender: Female 61.3%; Male 35.8%; Non-binary 2.8%; Prefer not to say 0.3%. province: Gauteng 32.5%; KwaZulu-Natal 14%; Limpopo 11.5%; North West 11.5%. area type: Township 30.8%; Urban (city centre) 25.5%; Suburban 23.5%; Semi-rural 11%. household income: Under R5,000 38.3%; R5,000 - R10,000 17%; R20,001 - R40,000 16.5%; R10,001 - R20,000 14.5%. lsm band: LSM 1–4 proxy 38.3%; LSM 5–7 proxy 31.5%; LSM 8–10 proxy 30.3%. employment status: Full-time employed 37.5%; Unemployed (seeking) 23%; Student 15.3%; Self-employed 13.8%.
Provinces represented: Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, North West, Western Cape, Mpumalanga, Eastern Cape, Free State, Northern Cape.
Completions: 400 registered panel (100%) and 0 consented guest (0%). Control-tower acquisition mix: Organic n=229 (57.3%); Referral n=126 (31.5%); Direct / untagged n=31 (7.8%); Survey join n=14 (3.5%).
Panel redemption totals were not recorded in this snapshot.
CPA (loyalty credits): Comprehensive Rocks Terms & Conditions are published on the Dootsa website (Terms §6 — Rocks and Rewards). This report discloses earning, redemption, expiry, and fieldwork redemption totals for transparency.
We process personal information lawfully, minimise collection, and protect respondent privacy. Public surveys collect only what is needed for research quality. We use industry-standard anti-bot checks to filter automated submissions. Incomplete and abandoned sessions are counted in response totals for transparency. Only verified completions contribute to published insights. Respondents must confirm they are 18 years or older. Minimal optional fields (name and location) may be collected for insight context. Guest responses are screened before inclusion in creator analytics. Suspicious patterns may be flagged or excluded. Age confirmation: I confirm that I am 18 years or older and agree to Dootsa's Terms and Privacy Policy for this survey. Data use consent: I understand that my responses will be screened using anti-bot measures and may be used in aggregated research insights. Guest answers are stored encrypted at rest where required; only anonymised aggregates appear in public findings. Small demographic cells are suppressed (k-anonymity).
Questionnaires: 1. See appendix / codebook download for question wording and value labels.
See the proof publicly. Get the precision privately. Sign in as a Dootsa member or subscribe to Dootsa Pulse to unlock:
The author declares no competing interests. Dootsa (Pty) Ltd conducted this research for internal publication and commercial insights purposes.
POPIA: Updated consent forms are in place; data collection methods for this fieldwork are designed to be POPIA-compliant. Public outputs are anonymised aggregates only.
CPA (loyalty credits): Comprehensive Rocks Terms & Conditions are published on the Dootsa website (Terms §6 — Rocks and Rewards). This report discloses earning, redemption, expiry, and fieldwork redemption totals for transparency.
Narrative framing: this report describes shopping preferences, convenience, and local identity cues in comparative terms. It does not judge, stigmatise, or moralise individual consumers or communities.
Methodology: detailed sampling, fieldwork duration, throughput, acquisition, and instrument notes appear above. Limitations and ethics appear under Data appraisal.
The executive PDF and narrative findings are public. Instrument appendix, aggregate tables, and codebook unlock when you sign in or subscribe to Dootsa Pulse. Individual-level microdata are not released.
Dootsa Research. SA's Patty Powerhouse: 400 South Africans on Price, Pride, and the Perfect Burger. Version v1. Johannesburg: Dootsa [producer], 2026. https://www.dootsa.com/insights