Business

Home Business

Toco Turns Local Economic Activity into Environmental Wealth

Toco's Paul Rowett

Stellenbosch resident and businessman, Paul Rowett, along with his co-founders Joe Pretorius and Niel Schoeman, have found a solution for communities such as Stellenbosch to  work together to reduce their carbon footprint by creating a currency called Toco. The initiative removes carbon from the atmosphere and supports global efforts to halve carbon emissions by 2030.

Toco is short for Tonne of OCO, the molecular formula for carbon dioxide. The platform enables easy climate action by turning everyday purchases into carbon reductions.

Each Toco represents one tonne of carbon dioxide removed from the atmosphere, and which has been independently verified as carbon emission reductions. It can be used to pay for services and products, or to count achieved carbon reductions.

DGB awarded ‘Best South African Producer’ at ProWein for Second Year Running

Tim Hutchinson, executive chairman of DGB (left) receiving the Mundus Vini Best Producer award from Robert Joseph, board-member of Mundus Vini.

For the second consecutive year and third time overall, DGB – South Africa’s largest independent wine and spirit company – has received the acclaimed title of Best South African Producer from the Grand International Wine Award MUNDUS VINI. In addition DGB received the Best SA Red Wine title and 20 Gold Medals.

Checkers is Giving Away a Car a Week until Christmas

Lucky shoppers can win a Toyota Corolla Cross XR Hybrid every week until Christmas.

It’s going to be an Xtra special festive season for Checkers Xtra Savings members as the retailer is giving away a Toyota Corolla Cross XR Hybrid vehicle every week until Christmas.

The Toyota Corolla Cross XR Hybrid was voted South Arica’s 2022 Car of the Year. It was also the category winner in the New Energy category, and its reduced environmental impact aligns with Checkers’ sustainability journey to lower its carbon emissions.

To enter the Win a Car competition, shoppers must purchase any three participating products and swipe their Xtra Savings rewards cards at any Checkers, Checkers Hyper and Checkers Foods nationwide between 7 November and 25 December.

Sixty60 users who have linked their Xtra Savings cards to their profiles in the app, and purchase three participating products, will also stand a chance to win a Toyota Corolla Cross XR Hybrid.

Joining the Checkers’ rewards programme is free, easy, and paperless. Shoppers can sign up for Xtra Savings in store or via any of the following channels:

WhatsApp (add +27 87 240 5709 as a contact and say “Hi!”)

USSD (simply dial *134*569*CARDNUMBER#)

Online (visit checkers.co.za)

Terms and Conditions apply.

Vinyl & Wine

The ‘Rebels of the Vine’ FLTR: Jacques Wentzel, Raymond Ndlovu and Kevin Swart.

They don’t call themselves the Rebels of the Vine for no reason. Black Elephant Vintners do things differently, including tastings without the ceremony and pomp usually associated with the industry.

Traditional wine and cheese/food pairings are not what you will find at Black Elephant Vintners. Instead, you are invited to enjoy a carefully curated wine and music pairing on their beautiful farm. This novel approach to enhance the experience of wine tasting by utilising the senses of taste, touch, smell, sight and hearing is what distinguishes Black Elephant Vintners from the others.

Co-owner Kevin Swart says, “We believe in enjoying wine and make wine for real people.” The bottom line? If you’re a real person you may wish to book for one of their Saturday morning Vinyl & Wine tastings.

Where: 40A Uitkyk Street, Franschhoek | When: Saturdays at 11h00 | Price: R150 – R200 | Bookings are essential.

rebels@bevintners.co.za | 021 876 2903

Franschhoek makes Time’s ‘World’s Greatest Places’ list for 2022

Autumn in the Franschhoek Valley

Franschhoek has made Time Magazine’s prestigious list of ‘World’s Greatest Places’ for 2022.

This collection includes 50 destinations from around the world that Time’s correspondents and contributors nominated for exploring because of the destination’s offer of “new and exciting experiences.”

Wordsworth Bookstore Opens in Franschhoek

After much whispering and growing excitement, Wordsworth Books is officially opening in the next few days. Much hard work has been poured into making this branch perfect for the local and international clientele in Franschhoek.

Tucked away in the corner of Bijoux Square, 61 Huguenot Street, you may first be drawn to the allure of Truth Coffee. Venturing a bit further into the square, you will find this quaint bookstore emanating warm light from within, inviting in avid readers of all kinds, and also your casual strollers-by. If you love the company of books and crave some new ideas or a refreshing new read, visit this store. It is certainly (Words)worth it!

Anthonij Rupert Wyne Appoints New MD

Anthonij Rupert Wyne’s new MD Carel Chapman
Anthonij Rupert Wyne’s new MD Carel Chapman

Anthonij Rupert Wyne says goodbye to Managing Director, Gary Baumgarten, who hangs up his hat after 11 years and who has played a pivotal role in the running of the farms. He will be replaced by newly appointed Carel Chapman, himself no stranger to the company.

Hailing from a farm in Gobabis, Namibia, Carel completed his BCom Hons in Financial Economics from the University of Stellenbosch in 2005. He has been a consultant to Anthonij Rupert Wyne since 2020, which stands to his advantage as he knows the company well. He has extensive experience in the wine, farming, and hospitality industries.  He previously served in various management and directors positions, including at Rust and Vrede, Guardian Peak and Ernie Els Wines.  He was also a founding shareholder of Namibia Wine Merchants.

Carel takes over the executive duties as of July 2022. He says; “My new position presents a wonderful opportunity at one of South Africa’s foremost wine and agricultural businesses.  I look forward to contributing to the success of Anthonij Rupert Wyne and to building on the culture of excellence.”

Anthonij Rupert Wyne is grateful to Gary for his dedication and passion which is summed up in his statement: ‘As I enter retirement I reflect on what I have learnt during my time at Anthonij Rupert Wyne, and I’m proud of the team I call family, and wish Carel all of the best for this next chapter in his journey,’ says Gary.

Text: Editorial Desk | Image: Supplied

Franschhoek at Decorex

Stuart Douglas, Cindy Douglas and Vuyisa Potina at the Potina Ceramics stand at Decorex Cape Town 2022.

Three Franschhoek creative businesses took part in Decorex Cape Town 2022 at the Cape Town International Convention Centre form 16 – 19 June 2022.

Soul Barrel Brewing Tops in Africa

Soul Barrel brewer Devin Kendricks accepted the award for Best Beer in Africa 2022.

Simondium brewery Soul Barrel Brewing has taken the top spot in the 2022 African Beer Cup, Africa’s biggest beer competition. The brewery took the coveted title of Best Beer in Africa with their Live Culture Grand Cru, which beat 250 entries from 14 different African countries.

(Cutting) EDGE African at Tapasco

Left: Wood fire roasted cabbage, poached mussels, zamalek broth, with apple & dill. Right: Chef Vusi Ndlovu

Before dinner I wondered whether Chef Vusi Ndlovu, whose surname means elephant, knew that Franschhoek was first known as Oliphantshoek (Elephants Corner). He did. Anyway, I digress before I’ve properly started… I missed his restaurant’s residency at Pasarene earlier this year, so was happy to finally fit in a visit to EDGE in mid-May.

Vusi attained chef stardom by placed as one of Top 7 in the San Pellegrino Young Chef Grand Finale in 2018 and being awarded best chef in Africa and Middle East. Bucking his mother’s wishes to study for an engineering degree he started his culinary journey at the Sheraton Hotel in Pretoria. Hard work and passion saw him working under the likes of Peter Tempelhoff, David Higgs and Luke Dale Roberts. After a stint in Belgium at the highly-acclaimed ‘In de Wulf’ and heading up kitchens at The Saxon and the trendy The Marabi Club, it was time to be master of his own domain. The result, in collaboration with siblings Absie and Mandla Pantshwa, was EDGE – “a holistic celebration of Africa” and a most welcome addition to the Franschhoek culinary scene.

Pin It on Pinterest