The South African asset management company Capitalworks and businessman Tim Hutchinson – long-time head of the liquor company DGB – have acquired DGB’s majority shareholding held by Brait, the JSE-listed independent investment company, for an undisclosed sum.
DGB is a leading SA producer and distributor of wine and spirits to the local and international markets.
Wednesday, 22 July 2020, was a perfect day for a protest; warm and sunny with nary a breeze. Ordinarily the village would be filled with visitors making the best of a wonderful winter’s day. Instead, it’s the locals who are out in force protesting Corona lockdown regulations that have choked off tourism – the valley’s economic lifeblood. Chef Patron Matthew Gordon of French Connection Bistro accurately captured the economic reality when he posted that “Our town is on life support”. So did the trending hashtag #jobssavelives.
After four months of lockdown, the hospitality industry in Franschhoek and the rest of South Africa is fighting desperately to survive. Wendy Alberts, CEO of the Restaurant Association of South Africa, said that about 400 000 jobs have been lost in the sector since the imposition of the lockdown, with more businesses folding every day. Margot Janse, chief judge of the Eat Out Awards, summed up what is needed in a Cape Talk interview: “The curfew needs to move to a more realistic time that is respectful to our industry. The alcohol ban needs to be relaxed for the hospitality industry… We should be allowed to act as adults… Let us get back on our feet!”
Stellenbosch Wine Routes and at least 300 wineries in South Africa, together with Visit Stellenbosch, are throwing their weight behind an official legal application requesting evidence from the Ministry of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs to explain the reintroduction of a blanket ban on the domestic sale and transportation of alcohol.
In an unprecedented show of industry unity, the broad-based wine industry coalition is demanding an explanation from the Minister and questioning the prohibition’s rationality. The wine industry value chain supports almost 300,000 people, is South Africa’s second-largest exporter of agricultural products and has made great strides in inclusive growth. The entire industry has now been put at risk by these seemingly irrational rulings.
GivenGain, the leading global fundraising platform for charity, has announced that all charities will now have access to all its Premium fundraising advantages – completely free of charge.
Marc Freudweiler, Executive Director of the GivenGain Foundation, says the online fundraising platform will no longer charge charities a usage fee – $5 per month per campaign – to gain access to advanced analytics, unlimited fundraising campaigns and unlimited users.
These and other Premium features are now free across the board.
The HAMU Hospitality and Tourism Group LLC – of Atlanta, GA, USA– are the new owners of the highly rated Fleur du Soleil Guesthouse in Van Riebeeck Street. This acquisition is HAMU’s first investment in hospitality and tourism in South Africa.
“We are thrilled and excited with this transaction”, said Anton Hayward, CEO of the group. “Franschhoek is widely acknowledged as the tourism destination of choice in South Africa and the established heart of the South African wine industry. It is also the culinary capital of South Africa and the town’s location and surroundings, close to Cape Town and its international airport, are breathtaking,” he continued.
Haute Cabrière has partnered with Together Franschhoek to create a new Purchase with Purpose opportunity to support COVID-19 disaster relief in the Franschhoek Valley. The proceeds of a special release of the winery’s ever-popular Chardonnay Pinot Noir will bolster the coffers of Together Franschhoek in the fight against COVID-19.
