by SFT | Nov 27, 2024 | SPAR, St Francis
As the season approaches, we, the locals, prepare for the influx of visitors and tourists and the benefits and drawbacks associated with that. We brace ourselves for longer queues, more noise, and different driving habits from what we are accustomed to in our village. At the same time the economic impact of tourism on our community is significant through the creation of hundreds of employment opportunities.
BEST PRICING
This week, we did some investigating to see the impact on the pricing of certain food items over the festive season and if the retailers capitalise on this.
A post on social media suggested that the price of Apples had increased significantly in preparation for the festive season, with the retailer preparing to “fleece” the holidaymakers and, as a consequence, the locals.
COMPARING APPLES WITH APPLES
We found that apples were retailing at the price mentioned in the post. But as we looked further into the matter, we discovered that these apples were a new variety to the store and that they had not been in stock the previous week, so in fact, apples were compared with apples, just not the same apples.
When we looked on the shelves, we found that the prices for apples varied from R45,99 for a 1,5kg packet of Top Red Apples, a different variety to the normal Red Starking Apples, to as little as R20,99 for a kilogram.
GET THE BEST DEALS
There are always good deals if you look out for them. Being part of the retailer’s reward programs is free of charge but can lead to 10 to 15% savings on a trolley of goods. Keep an eye out for the combination packages, which are often only applicable if you are a Rewards card holder.
Many residents came to the area to retire, so pensioner discount is a real thing! If you don’t already have a pensioner discount card, speak to the management and complete the necessary documentation.
Wednesday is Market Day at the SUPERSPAR Village Square & Village Main, so this is a good day to look out for specials on fruit, veggies, eggs, poultry and butchery items.
Specials and deals are regularly posted on social media pages (links above), so be vigilant, and you will find good deals!
SENSITIVE TO PRICE
Mickey Lindsay, SUPERSPAR Village Square General Manager, shared the following insights with us: “All Supermarkets are at the mercy of supply and demand. Our prices are dependent on what the supplier pays for the produce at the market. If there is a surplus of a certain item, when that item hits the shelf, the retail prices will reflect that. We are very aware of the support we get from our community throughout the year, and as such, we are sensitive to our pricing structures.”
Lindsay confirmed, “Be, the Fruit & Vegetable Manager, procures from 5 different suppliers to secure the best combination of price and quality.”
SEASON IS NEARLY UPON US
If the queues over the festive season are a cause for concern, it may be worthwhile taking the short trip to the Humansdorp SUPERSPAR Village Main or make use of Trolley Dolly for your large shops or SPAR2U for the essential items.
SUPERSPAR Village Square will be extending their trading hours over the festive season to alleviate the additional foot traffic. The hours will be as follows:
13th–31st December:
- SUPERSPAR (7am–8pm)
- Tops (9am–8pm)
1st January 2025 onwards:
- SUPERSPAR (7am–7pm)
- Tops (9am–7pm)
So, as the season approaches, lets be aware of the fact that many of the small businesses in town only have three or four windows of opportunity throughout the year to make their enterprises sustainable.
Support local where possible!
Read more: Keeping St Francis Safe This Season with SUPERSPAR, and some Massive Savings This Weekend!
by SFT | Nov 20, 2024 | SPAR, St Francis
With the holiday season approaching, our beautiful village is preparing for another busy summer. Known for its stunning sunrises, epic sunsets, world-class surfing, and scenic hiking trails, St Francis Bay will soon welcome many visitors. This influx of people brings energy and opportunity, but it also places added pressure on our medical and security services.
SUPERSPAR Village Square has stepped up to ease some of this strain, especially regarding keeping St Francis safe this year. “We understand the added demand that comes with the season,” says Richard Moolman, owner of SUPERSPAR Village Square. “In line with our commitment to supporting our community, we’ve joined two initiatives that we believe will make St Francis Bay a safer place for everyone.”
24/7 Ambulance Service
SUPERSPAR Village Square, in partnership with Caliber Security, Grand Comoros Retirement Estate, and Gardmed, has funded a 24/7 Ambulance Service for St Francis Bay. This service means quicker response times in emergencies, a crucial factor in life-or-death situations.
“Quick response times in medical emergencies can make all the difference,” adds Moolman.
New Security Camera
The second contribution is an extra security camera at the corner of St Francis Drive and Leighton Hullet Drive, one of the busiest intersections in town. Located close to the port, the airstrip, and several popular spots, this camera provides an additional level of security for those using this major route, whether they’re walking, cycling, or driving and will help towards keeping St Francis safe.
“Community involvement plays a big role in improving the services we offer,” says Paul Middleton, owner of Caliber Security. “We’re grateful to SUPERSPAR for their support with the ambulance service and the added security from the new camera.”
Making the Most of the Holiday Season
“For both residents and visitors, knowing that our medical and security systems are prepared for the season gives peace of mind,” says David Truter, Chairman of the Community Policing Forum and Board Member of the St Francis Home Owners Association.
With these initiatives in place, let’s all enjoy the season and the natural beauty that makes St Francis Bay special.
Weekend Specials
Slap chips or boneless gammon? You choose
Read more: Drama At Seal Point Over The Weekend – Break The Grip Of The Rip.
by SFT | Nov 13, 2024 | SPAR
Tuesday the 12th November saw the St Francis Bay Wine Club hosted by the Tops at SUPERSPAR Village Square, gather for the Veritas/Deloitte Wine Tasting under the guidance of Bennie Howard, a legend in the industry.
Bennie qualified as a Cape Wine Master in 1983 and was amongst the first group to achieve this prestigious qualification. His career has seen him involved with Stellenbosch Farmers Winery and organising the Nederburg Wine Auction (1989-2005). He is currently the Public Relations Officer for Meerendal Estate in Durbanville, where he also applies his passion for wine education at the Meerendal Wine Academy. Bennie is currently the vice chairman of Veritas, the longest-running and biggest wine and spirits competition in South Africa.
The selected wines included a Vintage Cap Classique, Jacques Bruére Brut Reserve, five white wines and three reds.
As usual, all the wines were noteworthy and preference depended on individual taste and imagining a suitable dish to accompany the wine. Bennie’s exceptional wine knowledge, anecdotal information and pearls of wisdom were undoubtedly a highlight of the evening.
Jean du Plessis, Richard Moolman, Jean Pierre du Plessis, Brett Botten, Mark Johnson, Lizelle Botten and Chrissie Johnson.
While presenting the Kleine Zalze Vinyard Selection Chenin Blanc 2023, Bennie shared that the Chenin Blanc varietal had its roots firmly based in the 1959 Lieberstein wine, which is said to have changed the wine-drinking habits of many South Africans. Lieberstein broke all sales records in 1964 by shipping 31 million litres of wine, making it the world’s largest-selling bottled wine of its time.
He described the South African journey of the Cinsault grape, from its humble beginnings in 1936, when, with a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, it was presented as Tassenburg, to the more refined products, such as the 2023 Piekenierskloof Cinsault of today.
Other interesting facts about wine history include the fact that South Africa boasts the largest population of old vines in the world.
“A day without wine is like a day without sunshine,” explained Bennie while mentioning that “life is too short to drink bad wine!”
SUPERSPAR Team – Morgan & Mickey Lindsay with Rue Masabalala
The St Francis Bay Wine Club hosts at least 20 tastings per year, with three special events towards the end of the year. This was the second of the three special events with one to go. If you are interested in participating, leave your details at the Tops at SUPERSPAR Village Square for Mickey Lindsay’s attention to include you on the WhatsApp group.
All the wines tasted are available at the Tops SUPERSPAR Village Square, St Francis Bay, while stocks last.
See more: Another Season Memory Maker! – Wine Of The Week At The SUPERSPAR
by SFT | Nov 6, 2024 | SPAR
St Francis Bay Wine Club, hosted by the Tops at SUPERSPAR Village Square, held a tasting with a difference on Tuesday night. All of the wines tasted were imported. It was interesting to experience the differences in style and characteristics from the labels of France, Germany and Argentina.
After a welcome from Richard Moolman, owner of SUPERSPAR Village Square, who introduced Tiffany Hurst from Premier Cru Tasting, Tiffany guided the attendees through the nuances, intricacies and anecdotal history of the carefully selected wines.
Delightfully Approachable Champagne
The evening started off with a delightfully approachable Baron Albert Burt Champagne. This was followed by a Mirabeau Pure Cotes de Provence Rose. This offered a fresh fragrant citrus nose with floral notes on the palate.
Then, it was on to the white wines with Domain de Margalleau Vouvray. This Chenin Blanc is the product of four generations of the Pieaux family’s dedication to crafting wines in the region’s chalky and mineral-rich “tuffeau” soils.
Next up was a Chardonnay in the form of Albert Bichot Chablis. With its origins in Northern Burgundy, the wine benefits from being planted on the gentle slopes that offer different exposure. This results in, the complexity on the nose and making this the charming drinkable wine that it is.
Perfect Partner
The next leg of the wine-tasting journey took us to Germany with a Korell Kabinett Riesling. The wine’s heritage dates back some 250 years. The crystal clear, fruity, yet powerful wine delighted, with many considering it the perfect partner for a good cheese or the crispy crackling of a pork belly.
Gabrielle Meffre Laurus du Rhone Villages and Chateau Des Demoiselles were first up for the reds. Both these wines scored well on the Critic Ratings and were well received.
Then it was off to Argentina with the Catena Zapata Malbac. The story behind the wine and the move to Argentina to resurrect the Malbec was fascinating. Based on the tasting experience, the accolades of #1 World Best Vinyard and the firmly established 2nd Most Admired Wine Brand in the world in 2023 are well deserved.
The evening ended off with a delightful selection of snacks that included the much-loved pork belly, salmon and cheese board.
Experience Something Different
When asked why one would buy an international wine when we produce so many good wines locally, Tiffany responded, “We have a beautiful country, yet we still travel abroad to experience something different. In the same way, experiencing wines from other countries broadens our tasting experience. It gives us a more informed perspective to appreciate our local products.”
All of the wines were well priced and not what you would expect from imported wines of that calibre.
The St Francis Bay Wine Club hosts at least 20 tastings per year, with three special events towards the end of the year. If you are interested in participating, leave your details at the Tops at SUPERSPAR Village Square for Mickey Lindsay’s attention. He will include you on the WhatsApp group.
All the wines that were tasted are available at the Tops SUPERSPAR Village Square while stocks last.
Read more: Another Season Memory Maker! – Wine Of The Week At The SUPERSPAR
by SFT | Oct 31, 2024 | SPAR
As the festive season approaches and we prepare to take a break , spend time with family and to celebrate, lets make sure we have the right ingredients to make these occasions memorable.
This week’s recommendation to get things going in style is a very special sparkling wine because what would a celebration be without some fine bubbly?
Gold Award
The Matriarch is a product of the Nitida Cellars in Durbanville and was the recipient of a Gold Award in the Cap Classique Challenge in 2023 as well as receiving four-star ratings from Platter’s in 2023 as well as 2024.
This is a Cap Classique sparkling wine, meaning that it is made in the traditional Méthod Champenoise style, where the second fermentation takes place in the bottle under crown cap, resulting in finer bubbles that add elegance to the overall tasting experience.
Expect childhood memories of Grandma’s cinnamon apple strudel and custard pastries in a kitchen filled with familiar smells when you have your first sip. The rich, full and luxurious flavours rest easy on the palate and are reminiscent of the fire in that kitchen’s big hearth.
Bubbly For Breakfast
If you are on holiday there is no reason why you shouldn’t sip some bubbly for breakfast! The Matriarch is especially good when served with a buttery croissant, topped with lightly smoked salmon, or perfectly poached Eggs Benedict.
The blend of Pinot Noir (50%) and Chardonnay (50%) was bottled in 2022 and has a pH value of 3.33, meaning that it has a lower acidity which is complemented by an average residual sugar content making it a very drinkable delight.
The Matriarch is currently in stock at Super Spar Tops, Village Square St Francis, so make sure you stock up to make those lazy summer days that much more memorable!
See also: Frozen For You Now Available At SUPERSPAR – What’s On At SUPERSPAR
Read More: See also: Another Season Memory Maker with Tops At Spar
by SFT | Oct 9, 2024 | SPAR
We have some exciting news for our local shoppers! A popular range of high-quality frozen meals called “Frozen for You” has landed at SUPERSPAR, Village Centre, bringing convenience with a variety of delicious meal options right to our community. It is the solution for busy parents, working professionals or those who just love good food!
Frozen is the new fresh! These meals are prepared by a passionate team from recipes that include high quality ingredients and avoid unwanted preservatives to extend shelf life. The vibrant flavours and ease of preparation make this range an obvious choice.
Hearty Meals
Enjoying a lamb curry, a steaming chicken pie or a vegetarian cottage pie, is as easy as picking up on of these hearty meals after your weekly grocery run. Frozen for You offers a wide range with something to suite every palate.
This new addition to SUPERSPAR offering couldn’t have come at a better time. This is a busy time of the year for many of us as holidays loom, deadlines need to be met, to do lists seem to get longer , so having convenient meal options that don’t compromise on taste or nutrition will be a game-changer for many families. Frozen for You has earned a good reputation for their variety and now they are right on your doorstep!
Gourmet-Ready
Be sure to keep an eye on the freezers during your next shopping trip and don’t miss the chance to explore these gourmet-ready meals. Follow the SUPERSPAR Village Centre’s Facebook page for updates on exciting new products that have hit the shelves.
Pop in and discover a new way to simplify mealtime with Frozen for You!
Read More: Inspired By A Dream – What’s On At The SUPERSPAR
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