While many South Africans thought that they could call food delivery companies to order meals from their favorite restaurants, their hopes have been dashed by clarification received from the Government that no drivers of food from restaurants and bars are permitted to be on the roads during the Corona Virus Lockdown, which commences at midnight on Thursday 26 March. Continue reading →
A Cape Town study conducted by &Innovation has shown that locally-developed mobile payment Apps can influence the tips paid by customers to waitrons, the speed of the payment method making customers feel less guilty when they leave a smaller or no tip. Based on restaurant turnover of R21 billion per year, the value of tips should be R2 billion.
The study found that the tip payment behaviour when paying by means of SnapScan, FlickPay, GUST Pay, and Zapper differs from payment made by cash or credit card. Whichever payment technique is easiest and most convenient for the customer at the moment of payment is used, without consideration of the impact it may have on the restaurant or coffee shop, and its staff. The mobile payment method means that they don’t ‘look the waiter or cashier in the eye’. It also means that the tip jar remains untouched. Continue reading →
Tourism, Food, and Wine news headlines
* The Business Confidence Index of the South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry retracted by 2,5 points last month, to 88, and was also lower than in December 2013, and the lowest in the past six months. The economic future for our country for the coming year will be a balance between the crude oil price and electricity loadshedding. The Index being below 100 is a ‘matter of grave concern‘.
* A survey conducted by the Cape Town Central City Improvement District reflects a young owner profile, being 25 – 34 years old; plan to live in the city for at least another 4 years; enjoy visiting The Company’s Garden, St George’s Mall, Greenmarket Square, The Fan Walk, and Church Square; 84% visit a city coffee shop at least once a week; 68% visit a restaurant in the city centre at least once a week; and 66% live 3 km or less from their work. (source: City Views)
* South African Stormhoek Wines is the Official Wine Partner for the 40000 nautical mile 2015/16 Clipper Race starting on 30 Continue reading →
Tourism, Food, and Wine news headlines
* Tim Harris has been appointed as the new CEO of Wesgro, the trade, investment and tourism promotion agency for the Western Cape, for three year period Minister Alan Winde announced today. Harris currently is the Investment Officer of the City of Cape Town, and will replace Nils Flaatten from 1 January. (received via media release from Minister Winde’s office)
* Despite doom and gloom, South Africans enjoy eating out at restaurants and buying food at take-away outlets, according to a survey by Statistics SA. October was the third best month in respect of food and beverage expenditure in the past four years, with a total expenditure of almost R4 billion. R1,8 billion was spent at restaurants and coffee shops, and R1,5 billion at take-away and fast food outlets. Catering made up the balance. The food and beverage industry grew by 11,5% year on year, with the take-away/fast food side growing at 15%. Total expenditure on the food and drink industry was R43 billion in the past year.
* Minister of Public Enterprises Lynne Brown has requested Eskom to communicate its loadshedding schedules more Continue reading →