Message from our COO
As we stand on the threshold of our upcoming peak season, I am thrilled to share my excitement and determination with you all. This is not just another busy period; it’s an opportunity to shine, to showcase our unwavering commitment to excellence, and to come together as a force that can conquer any challenge that comes our way.
We’ve been working tirelessly behind the scenes, refining our product offerings, optimizing our processes, and improving delivery efficiencies, to enhance the services we offer to our partners. It has been a continuous journey of learning, vigilance, and evolution. By fostering an environment where questions are encouraged, ideas are celebrated, and mistakes are seen as stepping stones to improvement we are prepared to head into this season full of confidence!
Recognising the importance of uninterrupted supply chains and efficient inventory management, we are alerted to the fact that peak season increases in volumes and supplier closures will have an impact on stockholding. Through the extension of our shelving systems, we aim to maximise available pallet spaces, allowing us to accommodate higher volumes of products. This proactive approach not only ensures a seamless flow of goods but also positions us to meet increasing demands effectively. The enhanced capacity provides ample room for organised storage and easier accessibility to products, minimising the need for constant reorganisation and allowing our staff to streamline their efforts. This, in turn, empowers our warehouse team to manage stock more effectively, maintain efficient inventory control measures, and optimise order fulfilment processes. By investing in our work environment and enabling smoother operations, we are fostering a more productive and motivated workforce.
During peak seasons, the increase in traffic congestion can significantly impact the timely delivery of orders to our customers and cause inconsistencies in our delivery schedules. To address this challenge head-on, we have made some adjustments to our approach this season. Firstly, we are bolstering our delivery fleet by adding 2 additional vehicles to accommodate the demand efficiently. This also impacts our staff and we have increased our delivery teams with well-trained, professional, and courteous staff. Secondly, we have made some adjustments to our route plan schedule by splitting/increasing some of our routes with high volumes. This will release some pressure off our delivery teams and increase our service delivery to customers. By combining these strategies, we aim to ensure we deliver on excellence!
Our heartfelt appreciation goes out to our esteemed customers for their continued trust and support. Your satisfaction remains at the core of our efforts, and we are dedicated to delivering excellence. We also express our gratitude to our dependable suppliers who have partnered with us tirelessly, ensuring that we can fulfil customer needs seamlessly.
To our dedicated staff, we recognise the hard work and dedication you put into meeting the heightened demands of our customers. Your commitment is the driving force behind our success, and we have every confidence that together, we will navigate the peak season with efficiency and grace.
Ignite the spark of excellence, rise to the occasion, and let’s conquer this peak season together!
Carla van Rooyen
Chief Operating Officer
Kerston Foods
A Taste of Trust: Discovering Our Food Safety Philosophy
At Kerston Foods we know that incorporating food safety into our company culture requires more that just posters on the wall or sporadic training sessions and documented policies! When food safety becomes ingrained in your company culture, it’s no longer a task on a to-do list; it’s a guiding principle that shapes our decisions and actions.
Our Food Safety committee is a valued and vital part of Kerston Foods that has evolved over the past few months to not only become more entrenched in the business day-to-day internal activities, but also to evolve and implement communication techniques outside the business. The Food Safety committee has been working very hard to create platforms for customers to engage with us on any product queries they might have and to ensure we bring these queries to the supplier for a well-rounded investigation and outcome.
Leading Our Food Safety Committee is
Our Newly Graduated Team Member
Meet Asiphe Jimta!
Asiphe recently graduated from CPUT with a degree in Consumer Sciences – Food and Nutrition. Her goals are to be an expert in food safety systems like BRC and to move into a managerial position within the next 2 years. She would also like to further her studies and qualify as a GFSI accredited Food safety officer, to conduct food safety audits.
Her team describes her as a confident and outspoken individual when it comes to her work, but shy and reserved personally. She is reliable, consistent and lights up the mood wherever she goes. Interacting with our suppliers, she always presents as respectful and professional with the goal of solving the query at hand for all stakeholders as quickly as possible.
We are excited to have Asiphe as part of our team and more so about her development in this role and her future with Kerston Foods.
Happy Culture Kombucha
Happy Culture was founded in 2017 with a mission to inspire more health and happiness in the country by offering exciting, evolutionary healthy alternatives in the food / beverage space, while inspiring a culture around gut health.
- We make a range of kombucha and water kefir drinks, across a variety of delicious flavours and since recently BIOME bars were added to our offerings – a range of delicious prebiotic chocolate bars.
- Our production home is located in Simondium, Cape Winelands.
- Our products are crafted with authentic methods and high-quality ingredients.
- All products are 100% natural, contains PROBIOTICS and are ZERO SUGAR.
- We are Food Safety certified and are proud to create products of high quality and consistency.
- All our packaging is 100% recyclable; we are dedicated to using our platform to drive recycling culture / rates in SA
Kombucha may provide similar benefits to green tea and protect against conditions like diabetes and cancer. It also contains probiotics, which can benefit your gut microbiome. People have consumed kombucha, a type of fermented tea, for thousands of years. Not only does it have the same health benefits as tea — it’s also rich in beneficial probiotics. Kombucha also contains antioxidants, can kill harmful bacteria, and may help fight several diseases.
Casual Day 2023
Spreading Smiles
Save the date! Casual Day takes place on Friday 1 September 2023 in support of persons with disabilities! Remember, a smile costs nothing, however your R20 donation for a Casual Day Sticker or purchase of supporter merchandise can mean the world to those who need it most.
One smile can initiate a chain-reaction of love, kindness, goodwill and caring. By SHARING A SMILE you welcome others to do the same. This theme lends itself to a multitude of interpretations, however at its core it is about the earnest smiles of actual people.
At Kerston Foods, we take pride in supporting our community and making their days brighter and filled with happiness, and that’s why we love participating in Casual Day. A smile can make your day go from gloomy to cheerful.
So be sure to follow us on social media to see how we share our smiles, and join hands with us as we help and create awareness for people with disabilities this Casual Day!
In The Spotlight This Month
Why I do Business with Kerston Foods
It is simple; they are one of the best in the game, in my opinion. Our relationship is much more than a supplier to client, place order (Denver there is none like him, I have known Denver since 2008) + receive stock + pay invoice = finish, that’s not the case at all. We have created a bond where nothing is too much for the team at KF, and I have pushed some boundaries with them.
Being Executive at a previous property and moving across to BBH, it was a no-brainer to bring KF along as well, as it makes sense.
Clint is an integral part of the Kerston Foods brand, and empire made the transition so simple and quick. If I forgot something, the famous words of Clint, “Don’t worry Duncan, I will pop it in my car and bring it myself”, 30 minutes later and your much-needed stock is delivered to create delicious food.
Pricing is a difficult game in our current economy, and Kerston Foods somehow manages to hold great prices and competitive prices, to say the least.
As supplier and client, we have been able to establish what works and what line items are best suited for both parties.
What’s Happening at Blaauwberg Beach Hotel
We have successfully completed a new build kitchen, which will be servicing our meeting and events areas.
Our hotel is getting some love in the form of a complete colour change,
for future projects, the terrace area will be extended and closed to increase WAVES capacity, increasing footfall and in turn, driving revenue for both of us.
Duncan Pontac
EXECUTIVE CHEF
BLAAUWBERG BEACH HOTEL