Latest news with #Bennie
Time Out
02-06-2025
- Business
- Time Out
SA's Red Gold: Why this saffron farmer is staying put
On a quaint patch of land just outside the Western Cape dorpie of Piketberg, a bold agricultural experiment is blooming. It's not wine, olives or citrus - but saffron, the world's most expensive spice, harvested delicately by hand from tiny purple crocus flowers. At the helm of this fragrant venture is Saffricon, a family-run business that's not just rewriting farming norms in the Western Cape but stitching social impact into every delicate petal. Founded by Bennie Engelbrecht, a former SuperSport backend producer turned saffron pioneer, Saffricon took root in 2013 after years of research and one big, hopeful question: 'Why can't we grow saffron here?' At around R250,000 to R300,000 per kilogram of saffron. Better known as 'red gold' - it takes roughly 150,000 flowers to produce a single kilogram of dried saffron threads, all harvested by hand, Bennie's son, Tiaan joined Time Out for an interview to share exactly how this fascinating business model has been taking off locally - this, as Bennie himself was deep into harvest season, sleeves rolled up and hands in the soil at the time. 'My dad grew up on a farm, and in his words, 'once the soil's under your skin, it doesn't leave you,' says the younger Engelbrecht with a shrug and a smile. 'He always wanted to farm again.' Cultivating Community, Not Just Crocus Saffricon's model is as rare as the spice they grow. Tiaan and his dad understand they're not about to dethrone the traditional saffron giants in Iran or Spain in terms of production volume - but they're not trying to. What they are doing is far more rooted: growing a hyper-local, high-impact industry in a country where sustainable agricultural opportunities are desperately needed. In a blind test conducted by a top multinational retaile r, Saffricon's saffron beat global benchmarks on flavour, colour, and aroma - earning ISO certification and international praise. As Tiaan puts it, 'We're not here to compete. We're here to build something sustainable, seasonal, and South African.' The magic lies in its timing. Saffron's peak harvest happens in winter—filling the employment gap left by the end of the Western Cape's summer citrus and grape seasons. 'We're able to come in and say, 'Here's work—right when you need it most.'' But jobs are just the start. Through their Saffron Incubation Program (SIPS), the team works closely with under-resourced communities - offering hands-on training, materials, soil testing, and mentorship. It's a measured, long-term approach - worlds away from the one-size-fits-all co-op models that often leave farmers stranded. 'Don't spend your pension on saffron,' Tiaan cautions. 'It's not a get-rich-quick scheme. It's a long game. But it can be life-changing.' View this post on Instagram A post shared by Tiaan Engelbrecht (@ Homegrown, By Choice While the global opportunities might be on the table, Tiaan is clear, 'We love South Africa too much to leave.' Relocating from their initial location in Karoo to the Western Cape wasn't just about terroir, he adds, it was about viability. Saffron needs wet winters, dry summers, and sandy soil with good drainage. And it needs people. 'In citrus and table grape regions, things slow down in winter,' Tiaan explains. 'With saffron, we're able to come in during the off-season and say, 'Here's work - right when you need it most.'' The planting season starts in March or April, and harvest kicks off about 40 days later. You have just 24 hours from the flower's bloom to collect the delicate red stigmas before quality drops off. It's a process that's part science, part sprint, and entirely by hand. 'There's no machine that can harvest saffron the way a person can. It's intimate. You have to know what you're picking,' states Tiaan. In a world of extractive farming, Saffricon is cultivating something different: a model that's small-scale, community-first, and proudly rooted in South African soil. Your Slice of Saffron Starts at Home If you're a budding spice grower yourself, Saffricon has an offering for you. Their Gardener Pack i ncludes 10 starter corms (bulb-like roots) retails at R250, ideal for windowsills and small gardens. Perfect for Cape Town's artisanal growers or curious foodies, it's a bite-sized way to get involved. For more serious growers, the Trial Pack priced at R17,250 includes enough corms for a 20-square-metre plot, along with fertilizers, soil and leaf analysis, a grower's manual, and access to Saffricon's advisory support. It's designed to be the first step in building a small-scale farming business with high-value output and minimal land requirements. 'Our advice? Start small. See what works. Then build,' states Tiann, 'We've seen people go from 10 corms to 80 in a few years. It's quite incredible.' Where to Find Saffron in Cape Town While the farm itself isn't open for day visits just yet (they're working on it!), you can find Saffricon saffron and other artisanal saffron-infused products at Cape Town's beloved weekend spots: These are your best bet for taking home a vial of the prized golden threads or your own starter kit. The Bottom Line Cape Town may not have saffron in its culinary DNA just yet, but thanks to Saffricon, that's changing one corm at a time. What started as a retirement project has become a generational mission: to reimagine farming, empower communities, and prove that even the world's most luxurious spice can have humble, hopeful beginnings. As Tiaan puts it, 'It's not easy. But it's worth it.' View this post on Instagram A post shared by Saffricon South Africa (@saffricon)
STV News
30-05-2025
- Business
- STV News
Woman who stole from charity and family business ordered to pay back £36,000
A woman who stole thousands of pounds from a children's charity and family-run coffee business has been ordered to repay more than £36,000. Beverley Bennie was jailed in January after admitting to embezzling £96,000 from Kids Come First and Myrtle Coffee in Kirkcaldy. The 37-year-old was sentenced to 20 months in prison with the court now making a confiscation order of £36,000. Bennie was employed as a business manager with Myrtle Coffee, which supplies wholesale coffee and vending services. The job gave her access to the company's system, and she was responsible for the petty cash as well as an electronic cash account. The court was told that a fixed float of £20,000 was always held in the company safe and was also the responsibility of Bennie. A financial review in August 2023 found the safe only contained £7,610. An audit then revealed Bennie had carried out numerous fraudulent transactions between September 2017 and September 2023. Company officials discovered she had inflated the values of genuine receipts, reversed some transactions, fabricated receipts, created false accounts and employed other methods to reduce and manipulate the petty cash balance. The total amount stolen by Bennie was calculated to be £83,599.93. The court was also told that in 2018, Bennie took on the role of treasurer with Kids Come First, a charity based at the Benarty Centre in Ballingry, Fife. In 2021, it was revealed the charity had limited cash reserves and some staff members could not be paid. Fife Council then instructed a forensic accountant to examine the accounts, and the results showed a number of unauthorised cash transfers totalling £12,771.69 made by accused between December 2020 and September 2021. Bennie has been given six months to pay the confiscation order which can be revisited if further assets are identified in the future. This will be paid towards the full amount she was found to have benefitted from the crimes. Sineidin Corrins, deputy procurator fiscal for specialist casework at the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS), said: 'Beverley Bennie was convicted of crimes that displayed a betrayal of trust by someone who had financial oversight of funds from a children's charity and a family business. 'She showed no regard for the impact her crimes would have on vulnerable children or the effect it would have on those trying to run an honest business. 'We take such criminality very seriously. This confiscation order shows that the Crown will not stop at prosecution. 'Even after that conviction was secured, the Crown pursued Proceeds of Crime action to ensure funds she obtained illegally were confiscated. 'Confiscation orders have ongoing financial consequences, meaning we can seek to recover further assets from this individual in the future to reflect the full amount. 'These funds will be added to those already gathered from Proceeds of Crime and will be re-invested in Scottish communities through the CashBack for Communities programme.' Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
The Courier
29-05-2025
- Business
- The Courier
Thursday court round-up — £36k cash grab from kids charity swindler
A woman jailed for stealing thousands of pounds from a children's charity and a family-run coffee firm in Fife has been ordered to repay more than £36,000 under Proceeds of Crime laws. In January 2025, , 37, was sentenced to 20 months in prison after she admitted embezzling a total of £96,371 from Kids Come First and vending firm Myrtle Coffee in Kirkcaldy. At Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court, a confiscation order for £36,036.50 was made, to be paid in six months. Further assets can be seized in future if they become available to Bennie. Sineidin Corrins, Deputy Procurator Fiscal for Specialist Casework at the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS), said: 'Beverley Bennie was convicted of crimes that displayed a betrayal of trust by someone who had financial oversight of funds from a children's charity and a family business. 'She showed no regard for the impact her crimes would have on vulnerable children or the effect it would have on those trying to run an honest business. 'We take such criminality very seriously. This confiscation order shows that the Crown will not stop at prosecution. 'These funds will be added to those already gathered from Proceeds of Crime and will be re-invested in Scottish communities through the CashBack for Communities programme.' Bennie had been a business manager with Myrtle Coffee, which supplies wholesale coffee and vending services and was responsible for petty cash and an electronic cash account. Cash was found to be missing from the safe and during an audit, it was revealed Bennie had carried out numerous fraudulent transactions between September 2017 and September 2023, totalling £83,599.93. The court was also told that in 2018, Bennie took on the role of treasurer with Kids Come First, a charity based at the Benarty Centre in Ballingry. In 2021, it was revealed the charity had limited cash reserves and some staff members could not be paid. Fife Council instructed a forensic accountant to investigate and unauthorised cash transfers totalling £12,771.69 by accused between December 2020 and September 2021 were discovered. A Perthshire businessman who claimed to have created the Queen's favourite brew at 'Scotland's first tea plantation' has been convicted of an elaborate £550k fraud. – better known as Tam O'Braan – made up awards and qualifications to blag sales from some of the country's top hotels and stores including the Dorchester, the Balmoral and Fortnum and Mason. The father-of-four also duped growers from around Scotland into buying Camellia Sinesis tea plants from his remote facility in the hills of Amulree, south of Aberfeldy. In reality, the crops were purchased wholesale from a plantation in northern Italy. Read details of the amazing trial here. A habitual thief stole a £900 drill from a Perth industrial store. , 33, appeared at Perth Sheriff Court to be sentenced for the theft, as well as hits at three city Co-ops. He stole £63 worth of alcohol from the Tulloch store on March 16 last year, groceries and cigarettes worth £143 from the North Muirton branch three days later and cigarettes worth £242 from the Letham store the following day. On April 8 last year, he stole the drill from Highland Industrial Supplies at the city's Inveralmond Industrial estate. Prosecutor Elizabeth Hodgson said the accused would enter the Co-ops and pretend he was buying the items. When his card declined, he would just leave with the items. When he stole the drill by exploiting the 'on-tick type of purchasing,' Blyth was working as a plumber and was known to staff. Solicitor Lyndsey Barber said: 'He's taken steps – not just lip service.' Blyth, of Nimmo Place, was placed on a six-month curfew by Sheriff Clair McLachlan at Perth Sheriff Court. She said: 'You're sailing close to the custodial wind.' A pair of undercover police officers thwarted a Dundee paedophile's attempts to groom children on social media. , 40, sent a string of nauseating messages to two profiles he believed were an underage boy and girl. A creep who believed he was talking to a child bombarded an undercover police officer with a slew of sexual messages. , 35, is now a registered sex offender after he admitted trying to indecently communicate with a child for more than two months from his Fife home. Dundee Sheriff Court was told how Kerr thought he was talking to a 14-year-old girl on the adult chat room site Chat Avenue. The 'girl's' profile picture included a photo of her in school uniform, with her age clearly stated in the biography. Fiscal depute Stewart Duncan said Kerr 'went into in-depth descriptions' of sexual abuse he wished to carry out on the child. Kerr, of Crossgate, Cupar, pled guilty to repeatedly sending messages of a sexual nature and making reference to sexual activity while trying to communicate indecently with a child between November 25 2024 and January 28 this year. Sheriff Alastair Carmichael deferred sentencing on Kerr until next month for a social work report to be prepared and made him subject to the sex offenders register on an interim basis. A Perthshire chef has been jailed for historical sexual abuse. Thomas McPhee, the former head chef and manager at the Red Brolly Inn in Ballinluig, has been imprisoned for 58 weeks after admitting offences against two teenagers in the mid-2000s.
Daily Record
29-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Record
Woman who embezzled £96k from kids' charity and family business to repay just £36,000
Beverley Bennie, 37, swiped nearly £100,000 from the charity but has been ordered to repay just £36,036.50. A woman who embezzled nearly £100,000 from a kids' charity and family business has been ordered to repay just £36,000. Beverley Bennie, 37, swiped a total of £96,371 from Kids Come First and vending firm Myrtle Coffee in Kirkcaldy, Fife. She was jailed for 20 months after admitting the crime earlier this year. And yesterday, Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court ordered her to repay a sum of £36,036.50 to communities under Proceeds of Crime laws. Bennie was given six months to pay the confiscation order. The order can be revisited if further assets are identified in the future to be paid towards the full amount due back to the charity. Sineidin Corrins, Deputy Procurator Fiscal for Specialist Casework at the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS), said: 'Beverley Bennie was convicted of crimes that displayed a betrayal of trust by someone who had financial oversight of fu n ds from a children's charity and a family business. 'She showed no regard for the impact her crimes would have on vulnerable children or the effect it would have on those trying to run an honest business. 'We take such criminality very seriously. This confiscation order shows that the Crown will not stop at prosecution. 'Even after that conviction was secured, the Crown pursued Proceeds of Crime action to ensure funds she obtained illegally were confiscated. ' Confiscation orders have ongoing financial consequences, meaning we can seek to recover further assets from this individual in the future to reflect the full amount. 'These funds will be added to those already gathered from Proceeds of Crime and will be re-invested in Scottish communities through the CashBack for Communities programme.' During a previous hearing, the court heard how Bennie worked as a business manager with Myrtle Coffee, which supplies wholesale coffee and vending services. Her role gave her access to the firm's system, and she was responsible for the petty cash as well as an electronic cash account. A fixed float of £20,000 was always held in the company safe, which was also the responsibility of Bennie. But after a financial review in August 2023, it was discovered a substantial amount of cash was missing from the safe as it only contained £7,610. An audit then revealed Bennie had carried out numerous fraudulent transactions between September 2017 and September 2023. Company officials discovered she had inflated the values of genuine receipts, reversed some transactions, fabricated receipts, created false accounts and employed other methods to reduce and manipulate the petty cash balance. The total amount obtained by the fraudster was £83,599.93. The court was also told that in 2018, Bennie took on the role of treasurer with Kids Come First, a charity based at the Benarty Centre in Ballingry, Fife. In 2021, it was revealed the charity had limited cash reserve s and some staff members could not be paid. Fife Council then instructed charity bosses to hire a forensic accountant to examine the accounts and locate the missing cash. The damning results showed a number of unauthorised cash transfers totalling £12,771.69 made by Bennie between December 2020 and September 2021.
The Herald Scotland
18-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Herald Scotland
Coatbridge men's steamy Highland holiday in hot tub heaven Glen Clova
Glen Clova Hotel and LodgesCadam Lodge awaited our presence. One of our destination Glen Clova Hotel's larger abodes, this spacious adult playhut was pleasingly minimalist and tasteful, albeit with drawers full of Gino D'Acampo kitchenware. Despite his vanishing act from TV, the cheeky chappie's cultural omnipresence endures. An old-school amoral crustacean himself, Bennie had no qualms about wrapping his sweaty hands around Gino's glistening utensils in this plush abode, and was soon attempting to rearrange our internal architecture with a beef chili hotter than the welcome that awaits the cancelled Italian in hell. (Image: Cadam Lodge's spacious interior) Cooling down with a couple of cans of medicinal Tennents lager, another bubbling pot then awaited us in the form of Cadam's hot tub which boasted a full panoramic view of the glen's flora and fauna. As slippery warm foam rippled over, under and around the islands of flesh formed by our near-naked bodies, neither Bennie or I choose to formally address the homoerotic overtones of our current scenario. Quelling any awkwardness by simply lowering our voices an octave, we grunted in a manly manner about manly things, how surfactants in the water contribute to bubble formation by reducing surface tension and trapping air – and also how the water jets that provide the intense massage are powered by a dedicated blower. Certainly, our middle-aged shoulder and back pain began to evaporate, hypertension techno heartrates eased their tempo to a more languid reggae rhythm and pinball-esque manic thought patterns were allayed with deep ingestions of fresh mountain air, the Highlands' own natural benzodiazepine. Bliss. Until Bennie stood up so quickly – instantaneously – that it was like watching Neo in The Matrix. The water soon caught up with his movement, sending floods of chlorinated man stew cascading over the edges of the tub. His mouth then twisted cruelly, unleashing a torrent of toxic Anglo-Saxon exclamations. I raised a wee Roger Moore-esque eyebrow as Bennie then thrust his hand into his Bermuda shorts pocket. What, I wondered, was he reaching into his bloomers to show me? To my surprise – and relief – he held a dripping, dead mobile phone aloft, the device having blooped its last bleep in his submerged pocket. Following another brutal assault on the Queen's English that sent the birds fleeing from their branches, Bennie let out a mournful wail, I imagine reminiscent of the Creator's final requiem for the universe as the last star in the last galaxy blinks out of existence. (Image: Bennie pictured seconds before realising his phone was in his pocket) Warm welcome HOT tubs and home-made chili are not the only things emanating warmth at Glen Clova. It also radiates from the people who live and work there. From the moment Bennie and I arrived, we were instantly attuned to the vibration of Highland hospitality emanating from the wonderful Glen Clova team – Mhairi, Jenny, Angus, Khali, Tegan, Caiden and Elise amongst others – whose collective synergy was that of a highly amenable yet singular Scottish sitcom family. Hospitality here isn't transactional; it's tribal. You're not a guest. You're temporarily part of the family. Nowhere is this more obvious than at the dining table. While demolishing a generously-filled steak pie (succulent Angus beef that I was assured was locally-sourced. I could probably see its relatives out the window) we struck up a conversation with a couple at the next table. 'We come here four times a year,' they smiled in unison, both radiant with the satisfied glow of folk who undoubtedly got their vegetables as children and had invested their enviable inheritance in enough dubious stocks to embrace semi-retirement while still youthful enough to enjoy it. Fair play. With all food hunted locally where possible (pheasants and deer are both in plentiful supply) and boasting a surprisingly inventive menu, Glen Clova's gastronomy manages the rare feat of being both comfortingly traditional and slyly modern. The venison pakora alone is worth the trip – delicately spiced, rich, succulent and served with a distinctive dip that was a fusion of both India and Inverness. The culinary theme was clear: rootsy generosity with casual flair. The hospitable and homely Climbers Bar pours a fine pint too – or glass of locally-produced gin – and is often packed with walkers and guests, who have the choice of staying over inside the hotel itself, its nine luxury lodges or three elegant houses, all with private hot tubs and some even with saunas. (Image: Climber's Bar) Originally dating from the 1850s, Glen Clova has been a vital stop-off for cyclists, ramblers and hillwalkers for many decades – and little wonder, being located just a few minutes walk from the River South Esk, within easy drive of multiple golf courses and actual civilisation in nearby Forfar. As a child of the central belt, I admit the only Glen I was ever familiar with was Glen Michael's Cavalcade – a low-budget kids TV Dahliseque fever dream. Yet here was a glen of such cinematic scale it made even childhood memories, where the sun is always shining and goalposts are made of jumpers, look grayscale by comparison. The glen itself is a broad, glacier-hewn sweep of neon green, flanked by stoic hills and brushed with a glowing, near-ethereal purple heather-haze. It's shaped not just by the land but by time: handiwork of the last Ice Age terraforming a sanctuary that's both dramatic and comforting. It's also a place where you can do as much or as little as you like. Those inclined towards physical exertion rather than hot tub dwelling will find mountain trails like Mayar and Driesh, routes that climb from the valley floor to cloud-brushed summits. (Image: The stunning surrounds of Glen Clova) For bloodthirsty types, there's fly-fishing on the River South Esk, stalking and deer safaris and enough wildlife to make you reach for your binoculars like a Victorian naturalist or high-rise flat voyeur. Hikes range from gentle lochside ambles to soul-destroying scrambles up Munro summits. There's also fishing, shooting, cycling, shooting, birdwatching, shooting or simply sitting somewhere scenic while pretending to read a book you have no intention of finishing. And shooting. But even if you never leave your lodge, you'll likely achieve some sort of communion with nature at Glen Clova – and perhaps find peace with any anxieties caused by the realisation we are all spinning around a nuclear furnace on a wee stone in the middle of infinity. Heavenly weddings GIVEN its location and the hospitality on offer, it's little wonder this picture-perfect resort is also fast becoming one of Scotland's best-kept secrets for hosting weddings – but not for long, I suspect. At the time of our visit, lavish yet rootsy new venue The Barn was under construction. Think rustic grandeur with twinkling lights, Highland charm and a location so heavenly that there's a chance God himself might pop down and carry out the service. Events of up to 120 guests are available, however smaller nuptials are also possible. For those seeking a more traditional service to guarantee God's permission to spend eternity together in a fluffy-clouded paradise, there's even a picture-perfect wee church – Clove Kirk – on the estate grounds, an Insta-ready venue with enough gravestones scattered around to remind guests to enjoy themselves as it's later than they think. (Image: Glen Clova is a perfect wedding venue) As majestic as Glen Clova is, there are no phone shops. So, an increasingly cranky Bennie suggested we venture into the nearby town of Forfar to abate his symptoms of technological cold turkey. Certainly, life happens at a deliberate pace in this ancient marketplace town yet the streets were bustling and liberally strewn with a selection of unique independent retailers – and a Costa. It wasn't New York, but undoubtedly provided a perfect counterpoint to the solitude of the glen. Whether staying at Glen Clova or exploring the charms of nearby towns, visitors will never be at a loss for activities whether they are thermos-clasping serious ramblers or the sort of walker who likes to intersperse their steps with pints of lager at welcoming hostelries. (Image: Bill is pictured at the Bon Scott statue in Kirriemuir) Exploration beyond the towns rewards curiosity however and there's countless areas of breathtaking natural beauty to discover – such as Corrie Fee with its dramatic cliffs and cascading waterfalls – that won't show up on Google Maps. With apologies to J.M. Barrie, it's really not so unusual that Bon Scott sprang from this soil and became its most famous export. Just like the AC/DC legend, this unique region loudly and proudly earns its place in the spotlight and with the Highlands' spectacular geology turned up to eleven in these tranquil surrounds, even the sound of silence can completely rock your world.
