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Woodford Group, a locally-based, proudly family-owned South African company, has been in operation for more than 30 yearsWoodford GroupWoodford Group, a locally-based, proudly family-owned South African company, has been in operation for more than 30 yearsWoodford Group, a locally-based, proudly family-owned South African company, has been in operation for more than 30 years. The group boasts more than 150 accumulative years of industry experience at a management level and has invested heavily in technology aimed at making all its processes as smooth and effortless as can be. In addition, the Woodford Group ensures that there’s a personal touch to its service and has a commitment to growing Woodford’s loyal base of clientele. Independent Car Hire Company Woodford Car Hire is South Africa’s largest independent car hire company, serving the market for more than 25 years with a fleet of over 1600 vehicles across three core divisions. Woodford prides itself on the high level of its vehicle maintenance, and online user reviews continually confirm the reliability and cleanliness of our vehicles. All repairs are carried out with accredited service providers. Woodford aims to provide innovation, value, and service excellence to its public, private and commercial customers by offering the widest range of vehicles at competitive rates. Woodford Car Hire is BEE compliant and has strong relationships with the tourism industry, government divisions and the Airports Company of South Africa (ACSA). The Better Way to Have a Car In a sentence, WhyBuyCars is the better way to have a car. WhyBuyCars features short-term leasing options with a range of vehicles offered at a monthly price that includes insurance, maintenance and taxes. The idea was born from Owais Suleman – CEO of The Woodford Group (Pty) Ltd – and his experience of leasing vehicles abroad. He decided to launch a fresh and original take on the concept that was ultimately uniquely-tailored for and relevant to the South African market. The leasing model for South Africans was based on the realities that everyday people faced when it comes to having the resourcing to purchase and use a vehicle. Credit rating and access to finance has always been a first barrier to buying a car. Even if an individual has the deposit and means – which many don’t – to secure finance, there are many regulatory hurdles to overcome. Some people may be blacklisted or under debt review, whilst others may have foreign passports. Rejection of application for finance can be as high as 40%. Once finance is secured, South Africans are then locked into an interest-based, long-term commitment with a depreciating asset that they may not be sure they’ll utilise for a long period of time. Insurance and maintenance then add to the burgeoning cost of owning and using a vehicle. WhyBuyCars skips ahead to the use of the vehicle, with the realisation that, regardless of the situation, South Africans still need to get around and – in the absence of a reliable, robust public transport system – simply have to have a car to use on a daily basis. WhyBuyCars therefore offers a short-term lease of just three months or six months with a flat rate that includes insurance, maintenances and taxes. Having a car becomes accessible and more importantly, flexible in a fragile economy where people are uncertain of their future. Most importantly, WhyBuyCars has been built on a technology-driven platform, allowing for a smooth process that can get you behind the wheel in no time at all. You simply need to apply online, have your application approved and go in to collect your vehicle immediately thereafter. WhyBuyCars has seen much success in the uptake of the concept, especially during trying times for cash-strapped consumers. WhyBuyCars therefore provides a fresh and innovative approach to using a car. There are no frills nor fine print and the offering puts the control into the hands of the user. You can stop after three months if you find your situation doesn’t afford you the service, or you can change your vehicle every three months if you’d like to extend or change things up. You know exactly how much you’ll be paying and don’t have to factor in additional costs, such as interest or insurance. Online Auction Platform Woodford Bid is an online auction platform built for the sale of used vehicles from Woodford car hire and trusted partners. Woodford Bid allows customers to get direct access to quality vehicles without going through a middleman, meaning great value and savings. Woodford Bid uses the latest online technologies to ensure price accuracy and reliability, and online transaction security uses SSL-encryption to guarantee the safety of your transactions. Woodford Bid primarily sources vehicles from Woodford Car Hire, acquiring popular vehicle models at low mileage. We also partner with trusted suppliers to give you access to a broader range of options. Each vehicle that we list goes through an extensive assessment, and any damage found is disclosed to you, along with an estimated repair cost.Full Name of Company: Woodford Group Date Established: 2020 Customer Base: Public, Private, Commercial, B-BBEE Status: Level 2 Subsidiaries: WhyBuyCars (Pty) Ltd; Woodford Car Hire, Woodford Bid KEY PERSONNEL CEO: Essa Suleman Managing Director: M.O. Suleman CONTACT DETAILS Physical Address: 14 Overport Drive, Durban, 4000 Postal Address: P.O. Box 41596, Rossburgh, Durban, 4072 Tel: +27 (0)31 207 8669 Website: www.whybuycars.co.zaFull Name of Company: Woodford Group Date Established: 2020 Customer Base: Public, Private, Commercial, B-BBEE Status: Level 2 Subsidiaries: WhyBuyCars (Pty) Ltd; Woodford Car Hire, Woodford Bid KEY PERSONNEL CEO: Essa Suleman Managing Director: M.O. Suleman CONTACT DETAILS Physical Address: 14 Overport Drive, Durban, 4000 Postal Address: P.O. Box 41596, Rossburgh, Durban, 4072 Tel: +27 (0)31 207 8669 Website: www.whybuycars.co.za Up Home Up Woodford Group Latest News Leaders Profile Woodford Group, a locally-based, proudly family-owned South African company, has been in operation for more than 30 years. The group boasts more than 150 accumulative years of industry experience at a management level and has invested heavily in technology aimed at making all its processes as smooth and effortless as can be. In addition, the Woodford Group ensures that there’s a personal touch to its service and has a commitment to growing Woodford’s loyal base of clientele. Independent Car Hire Company Woodford Car Hire is South Africa’s largest independent car hire company, serving the market for more than 25 years with a fleet of over 1600 vehicles across three core divisions. Woodford prides itself on the high level of its vehicle maintenance, and online user reviews continually confirm the reliability and cleanliness of our vehicles. All repairs are carried out with accredited service providers. Woodford aims to provide innovation, value, and service excellence to its public, private and commercial customers by offering the widest range of vehicles at competitive rates. Woodford Car Hire is BEE compliant and has strong relationships with the tourism industry, government divisions and the Airports Company of South Africa (ACSA). The Better Way to Have a Car In a sentence, WhyBuyCars is the better way to have a car. WhyBuyCars features short-term leasing options with a range of vehicles offered at a monthly price that includes insurance, maintenance and taxes. The idea was born from Owais Suleman – CEO of The Woodford Group (Pty) Ltd – and his experience of leasing vehicles abroad. He decided to launch a fresh and original take on the concept that was ultimately uniquely-tailored for and relevant to the South African market. The leasing model for South Africans was based on the realities that everyday people faced when it comes to having the resourcing to purchase and use a vehicle. Credit rating and access to finance has always been a first barrier to buying a car. Even if an individual has the deposit and means – which many don’t – to secure finance, there are many regulatory hurdles to overcome. Some people may be blacklisted or under debt review, whilst others may have foreign passports. Rejection of application for finance can be as high as 40%. Once finance is secured, South Africans are then locked into an interest-based, long-term commitment with a depreciating asset that they may not be sure they’ll utilise for a long period of time. Insurance and maintenance then add to the burgeoning cost of owning and using a vehicle. WhyBuyCars skips ahead to the use of the vehicle, with the realisation that, regardless of the situation, South Africans still need to get around and – in the absence of a reliable, robust public transport system – simply have to have a car to use on a daily basis. WhyBuyCars therefore offers a short-term lease of just three months or six months with a flat rate that includes insurance, maintenances and taxes. Having a car becomes accessible and more importantly, flexible in a fragile economy where people are uncertain of their future. Most importantly, WhyBuyCars has been built on a technology-driven platform, allowing for a smooth process that can get you behind the wheel in no time at all. You simply need to apply online, have your application approved and go in to collect your vehicle immediately thereafter. WhyBuyCars has seen much success in the uptake of the concept, especially during trying times for cash-strapped consumers. WhyBuyCars therefore provides a fresh and innovative approach to using a car. There are no frills nor fine print and the offering puts the control into the hands of the user. You can stop after three months if you find your situation doesn’t afford you the service, or you can change your vehicle every three months if you’d like to extend or change things up. You know exactly how much you’ll be paying and don’t have to factor in additional costs, such as interest or insurance. Online Auction Platform Woodford Bid is an online auction platform built for the sale of used vehicles from Woodford car hire and trusted partners. Woodford Bid allows customers to get direct access to quality vehicles without going through a middleman, meaning great value and savings. Woodford Bid uses the latest online technologies to ensure price accuracy and reliability, and online transaction security uses SSL-encryption to guarantee the safety of your transactions. Woodford Bid primarily sources vehicles from Woodford Car Hire, acquiring popular vehicle models at low mileage. We also partner with trusted suppliers to give you access to a broader range of options. Each vehicle that we list goes through an extensive assessment, and any damage found is disclosed to you, along with an estimated repair cost. Full Name of Company: Woodford Group Date Established: 2020 Customer Base: Public, Private, Commercial, B-BBEE Status: Level 2 Subsidiaries: WhyBuyCars (Pty) Ltd; Woodford Car Hire, Woodford Bid KEY PERSONNEL CEO: Essa Suleman Managing Director: M.O. Suleman CONTACT DETAILS Physical Address: 14 Overport Drive, Durban, 4000 Postal Address: P.O. Box 41596, Rossburgh, Durban, 4072 Tel: +27 (0)31 207 8669 Website: www.whybuycars.co.za Latest News Company News Blog Keep up with the latest trends and insights. Check out our blog today! Read More Home Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link

Baking for Beginners Price $200 Duration 3 Weeks Enroll < Back About the Course This is placeholder text. To change this content, double-click on the element and click Change Content. Want to view and manage all your collections? Click on the Content Manager button in the Add panel on the left. Here, you can make changes to your content, add new fields, create dynamic pages and more. Your collection is already set up for you with fields and content. Add your own content or import it from a CSV file. Add fields for any type of content you want to display, such as rich text, images, and videos. Be sure to click Sync after making changes in a collection, so visitors can see your newest content on your live site. Your Instructor Marcus Harris This is placeholder text. To change this content, double-click on the element and click Change Content. To manage all your collections, click on the Content Manager button in the Add panel on the left. Previous Next

Up Home Up Nureshka Viranna Nureshka Viranna is the young, dynamic and vibrant co-operative-founder and director of a company called Shopli. Shopli is an e-commerce and web design agency, that, in this age of digital information technology, helps to take businesses online and become more visible in this space. Nureshka and her team, measure their business achievements by their clients and the success their client experience through the work Shopli has done for them. Nureshka adds, “Our biggest achievements are our clients. I think that our clients speak for themselves. We are ecstatic when clients share how their leads have increased or how they have increased their sales.” FOCUSING ON YOUR VISION When it comes to accolades, Nureshka has been recognised and featured by Forbes as being in the Top 30 Under 30, for the strides she has made in technology, which is a huge achievement for a young, female-driven technology company. “Our mission and our vision have always been about our customers. It has always been customers first and how do we help them grow their business. That’s how we started, and this is our why,” explains Nureshka. The core function at Shopli is that together with their production team, they design and develop websites and online stores for clients. As Nureshka expands on this, “We have an approach where we make it our business to understand what your company does, to understand what makes your company different, what sets you apart, and only then do we create a website to showcase your products or services, so that you are more credible, you can get more business, and create brand awareness. When it comes to an online store, we help take your products online to ensure they are easily accessible to the consumer, so that this becomes another income stream.” Reflecting on her journey in this predominantly male-orientated technological environment, Nureshka shares that her biggest inspiration has been her business partner, Avilash Aniruth, who has operated his marketing agency for the past 20 years. This agency is also the sister company to Shopli. As Nureshka enthuses, “Avilash has inspired me in what he has achieved and how he has achieved his goals.” She has also been greatly inspired by women in technology, such as Sheryl Sandberg who was a big force in growing Facebook. “You don’t get many women success stories in tech,” says Nureshka, “so for me she is very inspiring and encouraging.” KNOWING YOUR VALUE In reflecting on the challenges, she has encountered along her career path, Nureshka says that the biggest challenge was that of being a woman in tech. “Tech is a very male dominated industry, so clients wouldn’t necessarily take me as seriously, and you are initially seen more as a sales rep going into a meeting. They didn’t see me as the expert in my field. However, once I showed businesses I knew exactly what I was talking about, and what we had achieved with other clients, my success spoke for itself. So, for me personally, overcoming that preconceived perception and proving to clients that I was just as good as any male in tech (without being sexist), was a huge accomplishment,” says Nureshka. She encourages women to know their value and the expertise they bring to the business. EXPANDING OUR FOOTPRINT With an existing national and international footprint, Nureshka’s future goals for Shopli are to grow this expansion into other provinces as well as internationally, to give the company a stronger foothold. On giving advice to women, or men for that matter, following this industry or following in her path, her recommendation is to never give up. “There are always going to be challenges, so you need to take everything in your stride and keep on trying,” she says. “The thing is that if there is a challenge you are facing, you should never give up, chances are you are closest to reaching a breakthrough to something great. So, don’t give up. I believe that if you are passionate about what you want to achieve, you will never go wrong.” KEEPING GROUNDED To relax and unwind, Nureshka spends a lot of time with family and friends who, by being in their company, keep her grounded. “Your business can consume you in the sense that it becomes you and you forget about life itself, so ‘my people’ are a big part of keeping that in perspective,” she says. She also enjoys sport and being active, as well as reading. Nureshka believes everyone needs to learn how to have a balanced life. “I am still learning to live a harmonious life, but I think it’s amazing to do what you love, be passionate about what you do, wake up in the morning and love going to work,” she says. Nureshka firmly believes it’s important to recognise your support systems. “I have amazing parents; my late dad was a huge support to me. Then I’ve got my team who are the core of my business, they help run my business, so I’m extremely grateful to them.” acknowledges Nureshka. “It’s been an honour to be recognised as a Top 30 Under 30 by Forbes because it’s opened a lot of doors and it’s helped me meet amazing people throughout Africa.”

Next Back to Team Next Kerri Adlam Art and Creative Director As Art and Creative Director, Kerri is the visionary behind the visual identity of KZN Top Business. With a keen eye for design and branding, she crafts the look and feel of our publications, digital platforms, and major awards initiatives. Kerri’s work ensures that the stories of KwaZulu-Natal’s business success are presented with the professional impact and creative excellence they deserve. Mail Kez@kzntopbusiness.com Phone +29 832284789

< Back Payment Test Company N/A VISIT WEBSITE About Year Establised: 2023 B-BBEE Level Level 2 Industry Technology Tertiary Category paragraph Secondary Category paragraph Company Description This is just a test Core Products Payment Testing Key Awards / Achievements paragraph CONTACT DETAILS Title Mr Name Surname Tevin Muthusamy Designation / Job Title Payment Tester List Email Address codb448@gmail.com Mobile Number 0817976801 Office Number 0314561234 Address 171 Problem Mkhize Rd, Berea, Durban, 4001, South Africa Reviews READ REVIEWS CEO DETAILS CEO B Phone MANAGEMENT TEAM Company Registration No paragraph paragraph Phone SOCIAL MEDIA Previous Next

This is placeholder text. To change this content, double-click on the element and click Change Content. This is a Title 01 Anele Msweli < Back In 2017 Anele started the brand as passion project while she was living in China. The niche brand has developed into a full-time business with growing demand for its products. Anele and her three sisters were raised by their mother in Montclair, where she attended Mowat Park High. She then attended Rhodes University, where she completed a Bachelor of Earth Sciences degree. The name ‘Mare & Itis’ has its origins in Anele’s student days at Rhodes. She explains, ‘Mare’ is word students at Rhodes use to meaning a fun time. ‘Itis’ is used to describe that sleepy feeling one gets after eating a large meal; “magie vol, ogies toe”. I decided to put these two concepts together to create something that is quint essentially me. I love a good time and I love food.” After completing her degree, Anele volunteered for Greenpeace Africa. She says, ‘The most memorable part of this journey was on board the Rainbow Warrior: I learnt so much from sailing with an eclectic and multinational crew.” ALL NATURAL INGREDIENTS In 2016 Anele moved to Harbin, one of the most northerly cities in China, which as it is situated near Siberia has long and freezing winters. The temperature can reach a very low -40 degrees centigrade. During this time, Anele was using Chinese products for her skin and hair care until she developed allergic reactions to these including her hair starting to fall out. In addition, Anele found it difficult to find suitable cleaning products especially as she was unable to read the labels on the products she was using. This is when, Anele explained, she decided to make her own cleaning products using all natural ingredients. The first product was the prototype for the popular Zesty Kitchen cleaner, which she made from vinegar and lemon. The small business grew from there with requests from friends to make additional products. Countless hours of research led her to a love for essential oils and natural products. Anele then moved to Wuqing, a small district in Tianjin, where she worked long hours as a Montessori English teacher and training coordinator. However, the demand for her products grew and she started selling them in a local market as well as online. ALL OR NOTHING In 2020 Anele’s visit to South Africa for a wedding – with one suitcase – coincided with outbreak of Covid which meant that she was unable to return to China. This also mean that she needed to focus on her fledgling business in order to earn an income. “The year 2020 will always remain a significant year for me and for the brand. It was all or nothing, and I have learnt so much about entrepreneurship and resilience,” explained Anele. The online business has now grown into a range of 45 products including essential oils, linen, and room sprays without alcohol as well as candles and diffusers. Mare & Itis Shoppe is inspired by everything natural. “The products are non-toxic, eco-conscious as well as cruelty-free. I use plant-based ingredients which are biodegradable.” In order to be sustainable all products are supplied in glass bottles, which are reused when returned to her. As a ‘garage’ business Anele is responsible for all aspects of the day to day running. She formulates and tests all products, does the packaging, runs accounts as well as handles all logistics and social media marketing. Apart from her online store, Anele has a number of instore stockists around the country. JUST DO YOUR BEST In speaking of who inspires her Anele says that she loves listening to podcasts including those by Oprah and interior decorator Karin Bohn. She added that she is inspired by her partner who is also an entrepreneur. Anele commented, “However it’s the day-to-day people that are trying to just make things work, the people who just do their best who inspire me the most.” A major challenge in her entrepreneurial journey is that she has not had any funding and has had to rely on her own resources. Other challenges included, “Surviving through Covid which was a major challenge especially as being a non-essential business I experienced shortages in packaging. The rand price and the economy are a constant challenge!” However, she believes that her success has been based on her perseverance as well as being consistent. “It’s important to keep up the same pace no matter what ’waves’ you face,” said Anele. FOLLOW THE DREAM Looking to the future, Anele has set huge goals for herself. As she is really proud of her products and would like to showcase them in the UAE, Anele has obtained an export/ import licence. However, in order to follow her dream, she would have to increase the production of her products substantially. Her advice to young people considering an entrepreneurial journey would be to ‘just start’. “You can learn as you go and figure things out. But you need to set goals for yourself. I am constantly pushing myself to achieve and set new goals at the beginning of each year and again every three months.” In her free time, Anele makes sure to keep both her brain and her hands busy. She enjoys listening to podcasts and reading and loves to sew, knit as well as spends time at the gym and enjoys a regular 5km walk on the Durban promenade every Sunday. Previous Next

Mayor: Cllr S S Gumede KZN Top Business Subscribe iLembe District Municipality iLembe District Municipality is well positioned between two of the busiest ports in Africa, namely Durban and Richards Bay. In addition, the municipality's proximity to King Shaka International Airport, new schools, hospitals, regional retail centres and multiple recreation options, as well as the temperate climate, are critical features of this north coast region. Rapidly Growing Economic Corridor iLembe District Municipality is well positioned between two of the busiest ports in Africa, namely Durban and Richards Bay. In addition, the municipality’s proximity to King Shaka International Airport, new schools, hospitals, regional retail centres and multiple recreation options, as well as the temperate climate, are critical features of this north coast region. iLembe consists of the following local municipalities: KwaDukuza, Mandeni, Maphumulo and Ndwedwe. The district is made up of 45 Traditional Authorities (TA) areas where settlement is controlled according to a traditional land tenure system. The diverse culture of this region has been shaped by people from three continents; Africa, India, and Europe, offering a unique vibrancy to the municipality. iLembe District is committed to people’s development, building unity and a sense of belonging across racial and cultural barriers. In KwaDukuza, Ballito is the central business hub for the rapidly growing economic corridor between Umhlanga and Richards Bay. The municipality has several well-established and popular tourism and residential developments including Brettenwood, Zimbali, Simbithi, Dunkirk, Seaward, Shortens, Umhlali Country Club, Caledon and Palm Lakes. Many others are under development. Mandeni Local Municipality is located midway between Durban and Richards Bay, and lies on the development corridor on the north coast between these two major port cities in KwaZulu-Natal. The municipality is strategically located to provide service and derive economic benefits from this development corridor. Industrial development is concentrated in KwaDukuza, iSithebe and Darnall, most notably the Gledhow and Darnall sugar milling operations at Stanger and the Sappi Paper mills at Mandeni. The commercial farming areas of KwaDukuza, Mandeni and Ndwedwe (31% of the iLembe District) are mainly under privately owned sugar cane. The most distinguishable characteristic of the Maphumulo Local Municipality is its predominantly rural nature. Sugar cane cultivation is the main economic activity and land use in the municipality. Ndwedwe Local Municipality consists mainly of poor black communities whose livelihood depends on subsistence farming. The northern areas of Ndwedwe, the central corridor of Mandeni and KwaDukuza Municipality are the commercial farming hubs of the district, which include forestry, fruit and vegetable farming, tunnel farming, and fresh cut flowers. Village centres such as Maphumulo and Ndwedwe in the West, Nyoni and Mbizimbelwa in the north, comprise of commercial and service development in the rural areas. They largely exist in association with a magistrate’s court, clinic, pension pay point, health, education and welfare office or similar state service. Despite its strategic location, iLembe faces numerous economic challenges such as the high levels of poverty in the rural inland areas, which contrasts with rapid development along its coastal regions. The District has been proactive in developing Enterprise iLembe, a broad-based institution aimed at facilitating local economic development in response to its challenges of high rates of unemployment and correspondingly high levels of poverty. CONTACT DETAILS Physical Address: iLembe House, 59/61 Mahatma Gandhi Street, KwaDukuza, 4450 Postal Address: P.O. Box 1788, KwaDukuza, 4450 Tel: +27 (0)32 437 9300 Website: www.ilembe.gov.za Back

This is placeholder text. To change this content, double-click on the element and click Change Content. < Back This is a Title 02 This is placeholder text. To change this content, double-click on the element and click Change Content. This is placeholder text. To change this content, double-click on the element and click Change Content. Want to view and manage all your collections? Click on the Content Manager button in the Add panel on the left. Here, you can make changes to your content, add new fields, create dynamic pages and more. You can create as many collections as you need. Your collection is already set up for you with fields and content. Add your own, or import content from a CSV file. Add fields for any type of content you want to display, such as rich text, images, videos and more. You can also collect and store information from your site visitors using input elements like custom forms and fields. Be sure to click Sync after making changes in a collection, so visitors can see your newest content on your live site. Preview your site to check that all your elements are displaying content from the right collection fields. Previous Next

< Back Next Mark Bielovich Mark Bielovich is the group chief executive officer of BMS Foods Mark Bielovich is the group chief executive officer of BMS Foods, a business born from family ties, that has grown over the decades through astute business acumen, unwavering vision and hard work. This KwaZulu-Natal based company is a leader in the processing and retail of meat products. As CEO, Mark manages the three arms that make up BMS Foods. BMS Properties manages the company’s property assets. Gen4Foods specialises in meat processing and supplies supermarkets nationally with high-quality products including polony and viennas. The retail division, Bluff Meat Supply, is made up of 26 stores across KZN. Mark says that a business is only as strong as its weakest link, stating that he is grateful for the commitment and hard work of his partners. The humble beginnings of this company stem back over one hundred years. In 1916, Mark’s grandfather Joe Bielovich, traveled by boat from Croatia to South Africa where he started a small butchery in Brakpan. The family subsequently moved to Durban in the mid-1950s.. In 1960 Joe opened a butchery on the Bluff, which was the start of the present-day Bluff Meat Supply. He retired shortly afterwards and was succeeded by Mark’s father, Marco, who ran the business until the mid-1970s. This business became part of a bigger company, Wholesome Meats, who were the leading meat company in KZN at that time. In 1980 Mark joined Wholesome Meats as an apprentice butcher. He was sent abroad to train as a master butcher in the Stuttgart area of Germany. The two years that he spent overseas had a profound effect on his work ethic and overall business outlook. Mark explained, “I worked for Henrich Mack, a German master butcher. He was a strict man who always sought perfection. We worked hard and had long hours – 90 hours a week. He watched everything closely including overheads like the cost of energy. As a young apprentice, the high standards and sound business practices rubbed off on me. I continue to try instill those same values in my partners and in our employees at work.” In early 1984, Mark and his twin brother Bruce started a small butchery in Pinetown called Mndeni Meats. In 1986 the brothers purchased Bluff Meat Supply back from Wholesome Meats. Later that year, Tony Robinson joined the business as a partner. Under Bruce, Mark and Tony’s leader- ship, the business grew. Unfortunately, in 1991 Bruce sadly passed away in a motor vehicle accident. Mark and Tony continued to lead by example working long hours and to the highest standard. At this time, each butchery store operated as a separate entity that made up the larger company. The success of each store was thus largely dependent on the leadership of the branch managers who were incentivised by being made partners in the business. In 2000 the company purchased their first factory to expand into processed meats. In 2007 an additional factory was built in Springfield Park with another larger factory following in 2012. That same year the company took on an equity partner, RMB Ventures, which proved to be successful for both parties. STRIVING FOR EXCELLENCE Speaking of his successes, Mark says that he is driven by striving for excellence in all spheres of business. “It gives me great pleasure when I walk into a store and everything is laid out neatly, counters correctly packed and staff correctly dressed. That is a win and that’s what we as a business are striving for – to always better the customer shopping experience – and to consider all aspects of the service offered. That is what I call accomplishment.” While the business has grown over the years, this has not been without challenges. Currently, says Mark, finding appropriately trained and highly skilled store management is difficult. The business has thus sought to identify people with potential and train them internally. Mark added that the looting that occurred in KZN in 2021 had a large impact on their company with eight stores damaged, one store burnt, and a large factory burnt down. “This was probably the single biggest catastrophe in our business’s history. But as with most South Africans, we too are resilient. Most effected stores were back up and running within a few days. The last one had to be rebuilt, which took a year. The factory took five months to restore, which was an excellent accomplishment,” elaborates Mark. THE HARD YARDS Speaking of advice to people entering into business, Mark highlights the importance of doing ‘the hard yards’. “I have found that many young people today don’t fully grasp the commitment required for success, you need to be persistent, success doesn’t come overnight.” Mark’s father has always been a source of inspiration for him. “My father wasn’t flashy and he valued hard work, loyalty, honesty and family. I had the benefit of sitting around the supper table and speaking about business in general with him. My own son has joined our business and through his commitment I see that I have passed on the same values and business outlook.” In terms of factors that influence success, Mark commented that managing expenditure is important. “I call the business the ‘golden goose’. That’s what’s going to make your wealth, not the Porsche in your garage. Get your business on a good footing and pay off all your debts. In the beginning, if we couldn’t pay cash for a luxury, we didn’t buy it.” He added, “You’ve got to be passionate about what you’re doing. You need to conduct your business ethically and honestly. I aspire to ensure that the business’s brand is loved, successful and one that people look up to.” Mark explains the overall management of a business is what is responsible for creating a successful business. “Life is about choices – a great deal of it is up to you. You need to make the best possible decisions and hopefully they are the right decisions.” Mark’s key motto is: “There’s no bad business, only bad management.” Living by example, Mark is proof that this motto holds true. Previous Next

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