Our Makers Hunt and Create for You @SOKODistrict Newest Addition, Gather Grocer #SOKORosebank

Hi Friends, 

In July this year, the very first SOKO District opened in Rosebank Mall. A few months on, SOKO identified an opportunity to test a locally sourced grocer within the Rosebank District. In what is a collaborative effort, SOKO has partnered with The Grainery on a concept called “Gather Grocer” in which local goods are sold on a consignment basis.

Gather is essentially a curated local grocery concept store that has local producers of quality food products at the heart of it. The intention is to create a grocery store collective that changes the shopping experience by giving the expert crafters of food products the ability to reach customers in a considered, immersive and curated way in a convenient location - a space that makes sense for food retail.

Says Hanré Truter, Head of Space at SOKO: “We are confident that not only will this store become a destination shopping experience in its own right, but that it will also bring much-needed traffic and repeat footfall into the district, benefiting all retailers within the district.”

“Gather is the child we really considered and studied before deciding we were going to bring it out into the open. Hundreds of hours went into the forethought, the systems, the brand acquisition, the visual language and most importantly, the business model. We are proud of its complexity and solid foundation,” says Gather’s curator and owner of The Grainery, Twila Cannell.

A special focus will be on the offering at Gather. The brands which have come on board are special. They are a true celebration and testament to the tenacity and creativity of the South African food entrepreneur.

Gather would like to extend an opportunity to as many food brands as possible, any local producers of grocery store product offerings can email eat@gathergrocer.co.za to find out more about being part of the Gather Grocery.

You’ll find the Gather store at the first SOKO District located in the bustling heart of Jozi at Rosebank Mall, 50 Bath Ave, Rosebank. For more information visit the SOKO District website or watch the launch video here: https://youtu.be/9udCS_7EMPM

SOKO District at Rosebank Mall Operating Hours:

SOKO District is operational under the adjusted Level 1 restrictions:

Mon – Thurs: 9am – 6pm | Fri: 9am – 7pm | Sat, Sun and Public holidays: 9am – 5pm

Operating hours over the Festive Season remain as above but please take special note of the operating times on the following days during the Festive Season:

• Day of Reconciliation 16 December 2021 9am to 6pm
• Christmas Day 25 December 2021 Closed
• Day of Goodwill 26 December 2021 9am to 5pm
• New Year’s Day 1 January 2022 Closed
• Sunday 2 January 2022 9am to 5pm

Follow Gather on Instagram @gather_grocer #localislekker #locoforlocal #gatheringsallowed #comegatherwithus

Follow SOKO District on Instagram @sokodistrict or keep up to date with their latest news on Facebook @sokodistrict. Don’t forget to use the hashtags #SOKODistrict #SOKORosebank #ChooseLocal and #SupportLocal #RetailTherapy #RetellTherapy when you are sharing your SOKO District experiences.

About SOKO District

You’ll find the first SOKO District space at the centre of all the action in Rosebank Mall. It’s the first of many come and what a good place to start – in the bustling heart of the Jozi. This location resonates with a SOKO District pillar principle of creating a regenerative space, a space that encourages constant movement towards fresh ideas.

We are 100% South African-owned, and we keep our carefully selected shop-fitting materials local as far as possible. Sustainable sourcing and recyclability also play pivotal roles in our processes – from our exclusive and patented mechanisms to our electronic and lighting systems.

Technology is a vehicle for improving the quality and sustainability of the community we live in. Our drive towards innovation – the continual hunt for solutions towards improvement – puts us in a unique position to supply SOKO District retailers with the best and latest technologies. Zero harm. Ecologically sound.

Sustainability

Each brand within SOKO District has a completely customisable space which means customers can easily find and recognise their favourite store. From a shop-fitting perspective, nothing goes to waste. Even shop branding is carefully recycled into stylish shopping bags after use.

Cheers!!!

Support me if you like reading this blog post by buying me a cup of tea or coffee - https://www.buymeacoffee.com/TheLifesWay Contact at thelifesway@gmail.com to collaborate and promote your services and products. Subscribe to my YOUTUBE Channel for giveaways, product reviews and mystery unboxings. #TheLifesWay #9YearsofTheLifesWay. Namaste!

@Brand_SA @PlayYourPartSA Awards are Now Open for Entries under the #WomenEmpowerment Category

Hi Friends, 

Throughout the decade, Brand South Africa has effectively demonstrated its commitment to promoting gender equality, women’s empowerment, and women’s rights. The Play Your Part programme encourages South Africans to use their resources (skills, money, or goods) to create a better future for all.

The role played by women has been essential to this mission, and their recognition at Brand South Africa Play Your Part Awards 2021 was inevitable. The Play Your Part Women Empowerment Award aims to promote women's sense of worth, their ability to make their own choices, and their ability to influence social change. The goal is to reward individuals and organisations who are making significant strides in elevating women's socio-economic status and creating environments that encourage women to reach their full potential.

“Women's capacity to contribute to the betterment of society must be highlighted. With this category, Brand South Africa celebrates women change-makers and welcomes women’s positive contribution towards gender equality and women empowerment,” says Mpumi Mabuza, Acting CMO at Brand South Africa, in honour of Women's Month, which celebrates the achievements of the 20000 women who marched to the Union Building in 1956, the Play Your Part Awards are now accepting nominations in the Women's Development Category.Zo

Participants must demonstrate how they are working to change some of the structural causes of gender inequalities, gender-based violence, discrimination, and unequal development progress for women and girls in their communities.

The Play Your Part programme is a Brand South Africa initiative that promotes pride, patriotism, and active citizenship in the context of its mandate to inspire a sense of national identity and citizenship. It works to lift the spirit of the nation by inspiring all South Africans to take action, be involved, and do something positive.

For more information on how to enter or nominate an individual or organisation that has made measurable progress toward advancing women's rights through active citizenship, please visit www.brandsouthafrica.com today.

Women are taking the lead in fields historically dominated by men. Women's contributions to the economy and community development have contributed to positive social change.

We believe that the empowerment of women can only occur through the constant promotion of movements that foster protection, support, and upliftment for those who are affected by gender-based injustice and prejudice.

For daily insight on the Play Your Part Awards

Follow Brand South Africa on Twitter: @Brand_SA, @PlayYourPartSA.

Follow us on Facebook: Official Brand South Africa

Visit: www.brandsouthafrica.com

About Brand South Africa

Brand South Africa is the official marketing agency of South Africa, with a mandate to build the country’s brand reputation, in order to improve its global competitiveness. Its aim is also to build pride and patriotism among South Africans, in order to contribute to social cohesion and nation brand ambassadorship.

About Play Your Part

Play Your Part is a nationwide programme created to inspire, empower and celebrate active citizenship in South Africa. It aims to lift the spirit of our nation by inspiring all South Africans to contribute to positive change, become involved and start doing. A nation of people who care deeply for one another and the environment in which they live is good for everyone.

Play Your Part is aimed at all South Africans – from corporates and individuals, NGOs and government, churches and schools, from the young to the not-so-young. It aims to encourage South Africans to use some of their time, money, skills or goods to contribute to a better future for all.

Cheers!!!

Support me if you like reading this blog post by buying me a coffee - https://www.buymeacoffee.com/TheLifesWay Contact at thelifesway@gmail.com to collaborate and promote your services and products. Subscribe to my YOUTUBE Channel for giveaways, product reviews and mystery unboxings. #TheLifesWay #9YearsofTheLifesWay. Namaste! 

Kandasamys: The Wedding @ShowmaxOnline #Comedy #KandasamysTheWedding

Hi Friends, 

It's the biggest fear of people to create the success of the first book or movie or whatever they excelled in the first part. It takes courage and a lot of faith in one's capabilities to create the same success to be well accepted by the public reading or watching the creation. Keeping up with Kandasamys became South Africa's best picture in terms of showcasing the South African Born Indian community living in Chatsworth, Durban. The second part of the same Kandasamys: The Wedding got released on 18th April 2019 but unfortunately I could not watch the same in the theatres. Showmax has not launched the movie on its online platform and I watched the same yesterday. 

The second part also features the same star cast as it's the continuation of the love story between Prishen (Madhushan Singh) and Jodi (Mishqah Parthiephal) as now the preparations for their wedding is the central theme of the second part and to the main day. As it happens in most families the preparations are the hardest part as the families start preparing for all the arrangements and there will be friction between the groom and the bride's families as they want the best for their kids. 

The father of Prishen is replaced in this movie and the rest of the cast is similar to the first part of the movie. It's been played by Yugan Naidoo as Preggie Naidoo, Shanthi Naidoo is played by Maeshni Naicker. The Kandasamy family is played by Jailoshini Naidoo as Jennifer Kandasamy, Koobeshen Naidoo as Elvis Kandasamy and above all Mariam Bassa as Kaunam 'Aaya' Kandasamy. They all have acted greatly and fit perfectly in their characters. The scene where Aaya uses the Germs mask can be called as the premotion of Covid19 as now everyone is wearing a mask to save themselves. 

As I was expecting a lot from the movie, I was not able to enjoy this part as much as the first part. Some scenes are nice but the overall movie is lacking the feel and vibe of a great script. The director Jayan Moodley tries to showcase the stressing elements in the newlywed's life before the marriage and during the parts of the ceremonies but it was difficult to do in a comical way. The parts between the Rushil Juglall as Arsevan and Tesarnia Oree as Poobasha are totally unnecessary as they are not only boring but brings nothing to the overall comical value in the picture and are totally irritating. 

The locations used from Durban and nearby areas are amazing and I totally loved watching those and some of the places I have missed, I have noted down to see in my next trip to Durban. If you have not been part of the Kandasamy's do bing watch it on Showmax in continuation with the first part on this coming weekend and enjoy the Durban Bunny Chow moments. It won't give you as much pleasure as Hum Aapke Hain Kaun but it's worth your time (127 minutes in total) to attend a local South African Indian Wedding.  RATING 3/5

Sawubona!

Contact Aashish Rai Jain at thelifesway@gmail.com or editor@thelifesway.com to send your products, launch event invites, and services to be consumed. #TheLifesWay #PhotoYatra #7YearsofTheLifesWay. Follow me on www.instagram.com/thelifesway for all travel-related photo posts and subscribe to my YOUTUBE Channel too where contests will be held in the month of July 2020. Namaste!

What Will You Order For Your Weird Craving? @Uber_RSA #UberEatsSA

Hi Friends, 

There’s nothing more satisfying than placing a food delivery order and having it arrive exactly as imagined - whether that means having your avo on the side or your drink with no ice. Uber Eats has released their first-ever Cravings Report which breaks down some of South Africa’s most unique delivery requests, some of the most unusual combinations and the wackiest comments made via the Uber Eats app from the last year. 

Let’s leave this off

It should be no surprise that tomato was the most requested food item to be left of any meal, with a total of over 200 000 orders placed over the last year that asked for the red vegetable to be left off. That's about 3 300 tomatoes saved from being picked off and wasted. Sauces finished off in second place, with mayonnaise being voted the least favourite since it was the most requested condiment to be left off. Rounding off the list was garnish items like lettuce and onion being removed from burgers to noodles. 

Local is lekker 

South Africans are known to be proud, and some restaurants had to adapt menu items to feed the cravings of locals. With at least 1 000 meals swapping out traditional starch for delicious pap. The local staple is loved so much, that many Eaters are willing to pay an additional restaurant fee to have it delivered with their meal. 

Chakalaka and achaar were also commonly used to replace chilli relish or BBQ sauce. It seems that the spicier the food the better it is for locals, who have on plenty of occasions stated that they prefer hot to extra hot when selecting the flaming flavour. South African flavours are a must and included with some local favourites including Kotas and vetkoek. Unorthodox but truly South African, is that some orders request that a tomato base be replaced with a chakalaka base on pizzas. 

Emotional eaters because why not? 

South Africans are known to love food, but almost any scenario and its accompanying emotion can be celebrated or comforted via an order on the app. Exam periods and test weeks leave students with high stress levels, that can best be counteracted with slap chips. Other emotionally-charging occasions including, graduations, Valentine’s Day and Premier League Weekends, were also when the app experienced an influx in orders. 

No Barks, No Bites 

It’s a well known South African proverb that many are all too familiar with. At least 200 orders specifically stated that their dog does in fact not bite, and the delivery-partner is welcome to come into the yard. 

For any fear experienced by the barking dogs, it was easily made up because South Africans are nothing if not giving and kind. Many requests were received asking the restaurant to give parts of their order like chips, coffee and rolls to the delivery-partner when the order is picked up, so that they may enjoy it while still warm. 

As the cravings report continues to be unravelled and more weird wallops and crazy cravings are discovered, one thing is for sure, South Africans are as loving as they are unique and while some orders raise eyebrows, other requests warm hearts. 

About Uber Eats:

Uber Eats allows people to search for and discover local restaurants, order a meal at the touch of a button, and have it delivered reliably and quickly. Since launching the Eats app three and a half years ago, the business has leveraged Uber’s technology and logistics expertise to serve 500+ cities globally, all while keeping average delivery time under 30 minutes. In South Africa, Uber Eats is currently in over nine cities across South Africa (Johannesburg, Pretoria, Durban, Cape Town, Stellenbosch, Paarl, Pietermaritzburg, Bloemfontein, Port Elizabeth and Soweto).

Social Media Handles: Instagram: @ubereats_za Facebook: /ubereatsza

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