The Season is Coming
As the weather slowly starts to turn, you can feel the buzz of a new season approaching. It’s a time when the Cape transforms into South Africa’s tourism hub, and here at Kerston Foods, we have been preparing to put our commitment to customer service to the test.
We haven’t been in hibernation this winter; instead, we have been focusing on several key areas to ensure exceptional service delivery when it matters most to you, our valuable clients.
Here’s a look at what we’ve been up to:
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- Strengthening Supplier Partnerships
Our relationships with suppliers are crucial to securing the right stock at the right time and at the right price. We’ve worked hard during the off-season to enhance these partnerships. Through these relationships, we believe we can offer a basket of top-quality goods at consistently competitive prices, ensuring you always receive great value for your money. - Empowering the Sales Team
Our dedicated sales team is the frontline of customer interaction. They’re fully equipped to assist with order inquiries, product sourcing, and support. Over the winter, we’ve grown our team with some new, well-trained staff who are eager to provide you with the best possible service and ensure a seamless customer experience. - Optimising the Distribution Team
The distribution team is the backbone of our service, ensuring efficient order processing from planning to delivery. During the off-season, we’ve focused on improving both the accuracy and speed of our deliveries, with an emphasis on maintaining a friendly, positive approach. This means quicker, more reliable service for all your orders this season. - Enhancing the Warehouse Operations
A lot happens behind the scenes in our warehouse. Over the past few months, we’ve expanded and trained our warehouse team to handle everything from order picking to preparation for dispatch. A big focus has been on product management, especially regarding food safety, to ensure that every product we deliver is fresh and up to our high standards. - Streamlining the Administrative Team
Our administrative team has been hard at work ensuring that every aspect of our operation runs smoothly. We’ve implemented improvements in processing accounts and documentation, so whether it’s receiving invoices or credit notes, you can expect timely and accurate information, minimising any delays.
- Strengthening Supplier Partnerships
As we head into the busy season, we’re confident that the work we’ve put in over the winter will result in smoother operations and even better service. Here’s to a successful season ahead, and we look forward to serving you!
We Supply …You Create
Supplier Highlight
Ding Ho
We are pleased to highlight our long-standing partnership with Ding Ho, a reputable South African food and consumer goods company that has been a trusted supplier to Kerston Foods for over 20 years. Their unwavering commitment to delivering high-quality products and reliable service mirrors our own dedication to offering exceptional value to our customers.
At Kerston Foods, we believe that strong, collaborative relationships with suppliers are key to our mutual success. Our close partnership with Ding Ho allows us to consistently uphold the highest standards of quality and safety. We sincerely value this relationship and look forward to many more years of fruitful collaboration.
Below, a manager from Ding Ho shares their insights on working with Kerston Foods throughout their tenure at the company:
“Our partnership has evolved over the years. Ding Ho and Kerston Foods have grown from strength to strength as trusted partners in the Asian food category. Both being family-run businesses, our values are aligned in servicing customers with reliable service, and offering quality and exciting food products. The space for creativity in the food scene continues to expand and we are proud to be part of the process.
In the recent years, we have experienced challenges with the port, COVID, and pricing adjustments, to name a few. In these difficult times, we appreciated the patience, support, understanding and professionalism from the Kerston’s management and procurement team. That is what sets Kerston Foods apart from others.
The notable collaboration or project that stands out in our partnership is the promotion of our products to the fine dining establishments. Kerston Foods has helped us bring in more niche lines to cater to that market and further develop people’s appreciation for Asian inspired cuisine.
Kerston Foods growth has allowed us to have a reliable partner to continue to promote Asian food products in the hospitality industry and to increase our basket of products.
We anticipate a continual mutual beneficial relationship between our companies for the foreseeable future with further opportunities down the line to collaborate in the food industry.”
Ding Ho Sales Manager
Bysri Palm Sugar & S&B Kimchee Marinade
Ding Ho has been open for four decades. We import Asian food products from all Asia Pacific. Ding Ho imports finished products, we have well established relationships with our suppliers, some whom started with us from the beginning. We ensure that each supplier meets the international food standards with the products that we import.
We bring in a vast range of Asian food products to serve the industry, however we differentiate ourselves through service and reliability. Our staff are Asian food consultants that our customers can trust. This is what we strive for. We do our best to optimise our deliveries every day. We value each partnership.
Bysri Palm Sugar – We import pure palm sugar from Thailand. It is an integral ingredient in Southeast Asian cuisine. It provides a complex caramel flavour and not as sweet as refined sugar.
S&B Kimchee Marinade – Our Kimchee Marinade takes away to the complexity of making kimchi.
Customer Insights
Century City Conference Centre
Century City Conference Centre, located in Cape Town’s vibrant Century City precinct, is an award-winning venue known for its versatility, cutting-edge technology, and sustainable practices. Centrally positioned near key travel services and attractions, it provides an ideal solution for corporate events, professional conferences, and large gatherings, with the capacity to host up to 1,900 guests across 20 unique, thoughtfully designed spaces.
Recognised as Africa’s most sustainable venue in 2019 and certified with a 4-Star Green Star rating, the centre stands out for its bold architecture and personal touch. It offers a wide range of event possibilities, from conventions and exhibitions to gala dinners and concerts, ensuring a high-quality experience for all types of functions.
We are pleased to strengthen our partnership with Century City Conference Centre and are excited to share the inspiring journey of their collaboration with Kerston Foods, as narrated by Carmen
‘‘We have been working with Kerston Foods for over 24 years, first dealt with Richard.
Kerston Foods evolves all the time, your company is streamlined and you listen to your clients etc. Since choosing Kerston Foods, deliveries are quick, and reps are on it with sourcing new items.
We look forward to a future we Kerston Foods continues to assist us when we are in need.
Staff Insights
Clint De Goede
We’re delighted to introduce Clint de Goede, a valued member of our sales team at Kerston Foods. Clint has been with us since August 2016 and has consistently demonstrated exceptional dedication and skill in his role. His commitment to providing outstanding customer service has earned him the respect and admiration of our customers. We’re honoured to have Clint as part of our team, and he’s excited to share a bit more about his journey with Kerston Foods.
“One of my memories is our transition during the company’s expansion phase. I recall the energy and excitement when we moved into our new/current warehouse and how we still are developing. It’s also the relationships and camaraderie built along the way that truly stand out, with our clients and colleagues.
When I first joined, the culture was very family-oriented, with a strong sense of teamwork and commitment to quality. Over the years, as the company grew, we embraced more innovation and operational efficiency, but what’s remarkable is that the core values, integrity, collaboration, and a passion for excellence, have remained at the heart of our culture.
A challenging moment was when we moved into our new warehouse, we faced significant logistical challenges, particularly in coordinating the transfer of inventory and ensuring that our operations continued smoothly. The tight timeline created potential risks of delays and disruptions in our service, but what amazed me was how our team came together, drivers, warehouse staff, procurement and sales team working tirelessly to find solutions. We communicated with clients, managed expectations, and coordinated alternate delivery schedules. That experience reinforced our resilience and showed the strength of teamwork under pressure.
What sets Kerston Foods apart is our unwavering commitment to quality and customer relationships. We don’t just deliver products, we build trust and offer tailored solutions to meet the unique needs of our clients. Our ability to adapt and innovate while maintaining a personal touch is what makes us stand out. As we celebrate our 30 year milestone, it’s clear that our dedication to excellence and service is what drives our long-term success.
An event that stands out to me each year is our annual company team building. It’s more than just an event, it’s a time when the entire team, from every department, comes together like a family. I recall one year when we had something like the amazing race, and the joy and laughter shared by everyone was unforgettable. It’s these moments of unity and fun that remind me of the strong bonds we’ve built over the years.”
Upcoming Impact Initiative
Mental Wellness
Terms like mindfulness, mental health, and wellness are often tossed around, creating the impression that transforming your daily life and achieving balance is easy. But is it really that simple? At Kerston Foods, we’ve taken a deeper look at mental wellness and its significant impact on our work environment. Throughout September, we’ve been raising awareness among our staff about key aspects of mental health, including the benefits of engaging with nature, taking breaks, practicing meditation, exercising, and maintaining a healthy diet.
We believe in investing in our team, recognising that every moment spent on initiatives that extend beyond technical skills contributes to their overall commitment and engagement. This investment not only enhances their pride in their work but also positively influences their personal lives.
Aligned with the international theme of mental health awareness, we believe “it is time to prioritise mental health in the workplace”.
Get ready for a grand celebration that’s on the horizon! We’re planning something special to mark this occasion and will be sharing the details with you soon. Your contribution has been invaluable, and we can’t wait to celebrate this momentous event together.