HOMEGROWN: Shoprite has partnered with a female-owned business to help those who are struggling to put food on the table

By Ali Mphaki

As the cost-of-living crisis intensifies, Shoprite has partnered with a small local supplier to create a meal that can feed a family of four for R20.

Newly launched under Shoprite’s exclusive Homegrown private label range, each 350g Pasta & Me one pot meal includes a large portion of noodles, soya chunks, spices and dehydrated vegetables. Retailing for R19.99, it is an economical and tasty way to feed four people for less than R5 a head.

Pasta & Me is a small, 100% female-owned business founded by mom of two, Aziza Parker. She researched and perfected the noodle pack after witnessing mothers struggle to feed their families in Philippi, where her family ran a supermarket.

“I wanted to create a product that could help feed families for very little money. The collaboration with Shoprite is really helping those who are struggling to put food on the table, plus it has opened the door for my business.”

The Pasta & Me noodle packs come in three different flavours – Steak and Chops, Jalapeno & Cheese and Roast Chicken & Veg – and are available exclusively at selected Shoprite supermarkets.

As the country’s low-price leader, Shoprite has intensified its fight on behalf of consumers to curb price increases and help cash-strapped South Africans stretch their money a little further. 

While many have come to disregard the R5 coin’s purchasing power, Shoprite supermarkets continue to sell a 600g loaf of bread, a pack of sanitary pads and a selection of deli meals – all for only R5. The price of its subsidised bread has remained unchanged since first introduced in April 2016.  

Customers also need instant cash savings to help put food on the table and the Xtra Savings rewards programme delivers outstanding value: almost 28 million South Africans saved a combined R13.5 billion – on average R1 billion per month – on their grocery bills during the last financial year.

67 Blanket for Nelson Mandela Day

KNITTING: Warming up the nation with love and colourfully woven blankets…

By Gugu Sibiya

Beautiful, crocheted blankets spread around the Farmhouse Restaurant grounds at Steyn City in Johannesburg provided a colourful backdrop to the 10th anniversary celebrations for “67 Blankets for Nelson Mandela Day”.

The celebration, which took place a fortnight ago, also marked 10 amazing years of growth, providing these hand-crafted blankets to the most vulnerable members of society. All the items were made with love by dedicated KnitWit volunteers.

Appreciating that a decade-old milestone celebration without music would be incomplete, the 67 Blankets initiative opened the stage for artists and schools that have been supportive or are part of the project. Livening things up were Timothy Moloi and Good Things Guy.

Brent Lindeque spoke glowingly about the journey travelled in the past 10 years, while school choirs impressed during the occasion, unleashing some future recording stars. With their dancing shoes on, they showed everyone how to let their hair down.

The project has been made possible and impactful by the Madiba magic, the love and respect the country has for President Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela, a decade after his passing. It has been enabled and kept going by South African volunteers intent on helping their compatriots to ward off the winter chill by wrapping up in the warmth of the lovingly crocheted blankets.

67 Blankets for Nelson Mandela Day was founded by Knight of the French National Order of Merit recipient, Madame Carolyn Steyn. She’s internationally recognised for her contributions to philanthropy, the arts and media. While the organisation started with Steyn accepting a challenge to make 67 blankets for Nelson Mandela Day, the organisation today sees thousands of dedicated KnitWit volunteers producing thousands of blankets and scarves every year for those in need.

Although there were initially concerns over space constraints, members of the public were subsequently accommodated. They still had to bring crocheted blankets or buy wool at the venue.