Latest news with #Cormack
The Citizen
31-07-2025
- Business
- The Citizen
Houghton's Salt Road restaurant champions the art of coking with sodium
Houghton's Salt Road restaurant champions the art of coking with sodium Championing the art of cooking with sodium is Houghton's newly launched Salt Road restaurant. As chefs around the world revisit the ancient techniques of curing, fermenting and even baking with salt, a Joburg restaurant is leading the charge locally. Salt restaurant, launched on July 26, located on 10 2nd Avenue Boutique Hotel reintroduces itself to food lovers with a refined culinary approach rooted in the ancient, yet increasingly relevant, art of cooking with salt. The opening night was filled with an immersive experience that began with bubbles at sunset as well as a sound and salt tasting and ended in a candlelit food and wine journey through the new menu. Led by celebrated chefs, restaurateurs and consultant Craig Cormack and Beau Du Toit, the restaurant draws on over 40 years of culinary expertise and nearly two decades of thorough research into global history and techniques of salt-based cooking, from old-world preservation to contemporary finesse. Also read: Radisson Red Johannesburg-Rosebank's head chef curates tongue wagging winter menu Menus are seasonal and designed to reduce waste, with composting as standard practice and many herbs grown on site 'Quality isn't negotiable. It starts with the produce, but it ends with how we treat people, our team, suppliers, and guests,' noted Cormack. Cormack's private collection of over 180 salts, sourced from regions as diverse as Peru and Denmark, forms the backbone of a menu designed not around fleeting trends, but technique. Also read: David Krut Projects showcases artist's latest exhibition Salt Road's atmosphere complements its culinary intent of elegance in intimate surroundings designed for slow, sensory dining. A curated whiskey and wine lounge also offers curated pairing experiences that highlight how salt can enhance and elevate tasting profiles. Follow us on our Whatsapp channel, Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok for the latest updates and inspiration!
1News
08-07-2025
- 1News
'Disgraceful act': Graves smashed at historic Auckland cemetery
Around a dozen graves, some up to 150 years old, have been damaged at a historical Auckland cemetery. The graveyard is located at St Stephen's Chapel near Parnell. The chapel, which was opened in 1857, is a registered category 1 building with Heritage New Zealand. Rosie Cormack told 1News she had been working at the St Stephens Chapel for about five years, working to restore graves and planting old-fashioned roses at the site. "Everything used to be badly damaged here, and slowly, we've restored it as much as we can," the Heritage Roses convener said. "Some of them were impossible, the ground has subsided quite a bit and tree root damage, but we've done what we can." She said more than 30 graves had been restored with grants and various donations from across Auckland. ADVERTISEMENT The site was of "huge significance" to Auckland, she added, with several old Auckland families and Māori chiefs buried at the site. "It's been a long haul, and then we come, and we find all the work that we've done just in smithereens." Around a dozen graves, some up to 150 years old, have been damaged at a historical Auckland cemetery in Parnell. (Source: 1News) Cormack said headstones had been pushed over and smashed on either Sunday or Monday, and that she felt "absolutely numb" when she arrived to see the damage herself. "I could not believe it — that someone could do something so mindless in a place like this." Dean of Auckland Anne Mills said she was "shocked and saddened" by the vandalism. "It was a bit of disbelief, really, that someone would come and recklessly do this and cause the senseless damage." ADVERTISEMENT Mills said she really felt for the Heritage Roses group who "worked tirelessly" to keep the graveyard as best they could. "They do it because they care. They do it because they understand the significance of this place and of the lives that the grave sites here represent." The St Stephen's Chapel and cemetery in Parnell. (Source: 1News) Police told 1News in a statement a report of wilful damage at the cemetery had been received just after 5pm on July 7. "It has been reported that eight gravestones have been pushed over and broken up." Auckland Council said it was also aware of the incident. "This is a disgraceful act and our hearts go out to the descendants of those lying in rest here," said Auckland Council manager of area operations Martin Wong. ADVERTISEMENT "The council manages the land, gardens and trees at this closed cemetery site, but does not look after the graves, as these are private property, owned by the descendants. That said, we will assist to sensitively tidy up the damage and assist the police with their inquiries. "The graves are maintained by volunteers, whose efforts have been helped by two Auckland Council grants over the last six years. "The council is also investigating significant damage to the council-owned toilets at Judges Bay, where sinks, taps and toilets were removed over the weekend, causing extensive damage to this public facility." Anyone with information should contact police on 105, or call 111 if they see further suspicious activity or offending taking place.
Daily Record
04-07-2025
- Business
- Daily Record
Dave Cormack insists Aberdeen are transfer analytics originals as Pittodrie losses are all part of the plan
Dave Cormack insists Aberdeen are ahead of the game on analytics despite Hearts hogging the headlines. The Jambos are one of a handful of clubs with access to Jamestown Analytics and have been boosted by a fresh £10million investment from Brighton owner and now Hearts shareholder Tony Bloom. But Dons chief Cormack points to the player trading that's been happening at Pittodrie for the last five or six years that is now allowing them to go out and spend more on players they are confident will only increase their transfer revenue in seasons to come. Cormack has promised to plough a further £8million into Aberdeen along with director Tom Crotty, with the majority going towards a new indoor pitch at the club's Cormack Park training centre. The investment is needed given Cormack confirmed the conscious move by the club not to make sure the books are balanced: 'We're making a decision to lose £3m or £4m operationally a year as a club," he said. However, Cormack has full faith the club's recruitment department to continue finding players that will provide a significan return when sold. 'We have got a squad planning and recruitment team in place now which I think will stand us in good stead," he said. "Everyone is talking about these analytics and algorithms which everybody is using. But we have been using those for five or six years now. Miovski, Ramadani, a number of players, have come through that. We have tapped in to that.' And Cormack expects Finnish winger Topi Keskinen to be the next big money exit from Pittodrie after dropping six figures on the wide man. 'There is a reason we have paid £1m for Topi,' he said. 'Listen, in the last five years we have managed to sell just over £20m worth of players. That is significant income for us. The trick is balancing that with being competitive. 'Our scouting needs to be excellent so we can unearth and get value from players. But people want to come to Aberdeen now because they know they will get an opportunity to move on to a bigger club.' Rangers and Celtic pages, and sign up to our newsletters to make sure you never miss a beat throughout the season.
The Herald Scotland
04-07-2025
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
Why Aberdeen's loss-making business model can give them edge on rivals
Whether Aberdeen can build upon their historic Scottish Gas Scottish Cup triumph over their Parkhead rivals at Hampden back in May and add more silverware to their trophy cabinet has, despite the arrival of no fewer than four new players at Pittodrie in recent weeks, scarcely merited a mention. The announcement this week that chairman and majority shareholder Dave Cormack and director Tom Crotty have promised to plough in £8m of fresh investment has hardly given those who occupy boardrooms across the land palpitations either. Read more: That is, even on these shores, a trifling amount in the modern game. Plus, the vast majority of it will be spent building an indoor pitch at their training ground. The hour-long Red TV interview with Aberdeen-born, United States-based software entrepreneur Cormack that was posted on You Tube on Wednesday, however, was fascinating and suggested that more good times may well lie ahead for the north-east outfit in the forthcoming campaigns. Even if he did say, 'We're making a decision to lose £3m or £4m operationally a year as a club'. Much has been made about how data analytics will drive Hearts' recruitment efforts now that Bloom, who has enjoyed great joy with Brighton down in England and Royal Union Saint-Gilloise over in Belgium using such methods, is a major player behind the scenes. Hopes are high among the Jambos support that Jamestown Analytics, the company owned by the mathematics whizz who is known as The Lizard on the poker circuit, will be able to unearth a few outstanding players for affordable fees in the transfer market who can enable them to compete with larger and richer rivals. It was a route which Rangers decided to go down back in 2023 when they overhauled their scouting department, brought in a raft of new personnel to key positions and moved to a data-led operation which relied more heavily on video analysis than had previously been the case. But Cormack, who stated that he expected Swedish manager Jimmy Thelin to bring in around eight new recruits in total before the summer window closes on August 31, pointed out that is exactly the approach which Aberdeen have been taking for some time now. It is a strategy which has enabled them to turn a profit on their incomings and outgoings and to spend far more money on transfer fees and player wages than they would be able to if they relied on gate receipts, sponsorship money and television income alone because they are confident they will recoup their outlay and more further down the line. (Image: Craig Foy - SNS Group) They made in excess of £8m from the departures of Bojan Miovski (Giron), Duk (Leganes) and Connor Barron (Rangers) last season. The year before that they banked over £3m from Ylber Ramadani (Lecce) and Ross McCrorie (Bristol City) being offloaded. Three years ago, the sales of Calvin Ramsay (Liverpool) and Lewis Ferguson (Bologna) swelled their bank balance by over £7m. A couple of seasons before that, Scott McKenna (Nottingham Forest) and Sam Cosgrove (Birmingham City) exited for over £5m. 'We have got a squad planning and recruitment team in place now which I think will stand us in good stead,' said Cormack. 'Everyone is talking about these analytics and algorithms which everybody is using. But we have been using those for five or six years now. Miovski, Ramadani, a number of players, have come through that. We have tapped in to that.' The Aberdeen chairman expects winger Topi Keskinen, who featured prominently for Finland at the European Under-21 Championship finals in Slovakia this summer and scored goals in draws with the Netherlands and Denmark, to be the next recruit to bring in a sizeable return on their investment. 'There is a reason we have paid £1m for Topi,' he said. 'Listen, in the last five years we have managed to sell just over £20m worth of players. That is significant income for us. The trick is balancing that with being competitive. 'Our scouting needs to be excellent so we can unearth and get value from players. But people want to come to Aberdeen now because they know they will get an opportunity to move on to a bigger club.' Read more: Cormack has come in for fierce criticism from supporters and media commentators – including from this correspondent – during the six years that he has been chairman despite the huge sums of money which he has personally ploughed in to his boyhood heroes. Before Thelin was brought in last summer, he had a poor track record when it came to appointing managers. The team's results at home and abroad had often left a great deal to be desired because of his bad choices. But he is hopeful that Graeme Shinnie and his team mates can improve further despite having to deal with European group stage football once again next term – something which they struggled badly with when they got into the Conference League two years ago – and play against revitalised Hearts and Rangers teams. 'It's always good to have competition,' he said. 'It's never a worry, it's a challenge. This multi-club environment is an approach other clubs (Hearts, Hibernian and Rangers) are taking is new. But I think it is important we focus on what Aberdeen are doing. You will never get all of your recruitment right. The industry average is 50 per cent. We need to be at 70 to 80 per cent. 'Listen, if I fall under a bus tomorrow I don't want to leave the club in a poor financial position. It has to stand on its own two feet. But we're making a decision to lose £3m or £4m operationally a year as a club. What we have got today is a player trading environment which is allowing us to punch above our weight in terms of recruiting and player wages.'
The National
04-07-2025
- Business
- The National
Why Aberdeen's loss-making business model can give them edge on rivals
Brighton owner and professional gambler Tony Bloom buying a 29 per cent stake in the Gorgie outfit for £9.86m and a consortium comprising the 49ers Enterprises and American tycoon Andrew Cavenagh completing their £75m takeover of the Govan giants has sent ripples throughout the game in this country. Whether Aberdeen can build upon their historic Scottish Gas Scottish Cup triumph over their Parkhead rivals at Hampden back in May and add more silverware to their trophy cabinet has, despite the arrival of no fewer than four new players at Pittodrie in recent weeks, scarcely merited a mention. The announcement this week that chairman and majority shareholder Dave Cormack and director Tom Crotty have promised to plough in £8m of fresh investment has hardly given those who occupy boardrooms across the land palpitations either. Read more: That is, even on these shores, a trifling amount in the modern game. Plus, the vast majority of it will be spent building an indoor pitch at their training ground. The hour-long Red TV interview with Aberdeen-born, United States-based software entrepreneur Cormack that was posted on You Tube on Wednesday, however, was fascinating and suggested that more good times may well lie ahead for the north-east outfit in the forthcoming campaigns. Even if he did say, 'We're making a decision to lose £3m or £4m operationally a year as a club'. Much has been made about how data analytics will drive Hearts' recruitment efforts now that Bloom, who has enjoyed great joy with Brighton down in England and Royal Union Saint-Gilloise over in Belgium using such methods, is a major player behind the scenes. Hopes are high among the Jambos support that Jamestown Analytics, the company owned by the mathematics whizz who is known as The Lizard on the poker circuit, will be able to unearth a few outstanding players for affordable fees in the transfer market who can enable them to compete with larger and richer rivals. It was a route which Rangers decided to go down back in 2023 when they overhauled their scouting department, brought in a raft of new personnel to key positions and moved to a data-led operation which relied more heavily on video analysis than had previously been the case. But Cormack, who stated that he expected Swedish manager Jimmy Thelin to bring in around eight new recruits in total before the summer window closes on August 31, pointed out that is exactly the approach which Aberdeen have been taking for some time now. It is a strategy which has enabled them to turn a profit on their incomings and outgoings and to spend far more money on transfer fees and player wages than they would be able to if they relied on gate receipts, sponsorship money and television income alone because they are confident they will recoup their outlay and more further down the line. (Image: Craig Foy - SNS Group) They made in excess of £8m from the departures of Bojan Miovski (Giron), Duk (Leganes) and Connor Barron (Rangers) last season. The year before that they banked over £3m from Ylber Ramadani (Lecce) and Ross McCrorie (Bristol City) being offloaded. Three years ago, the sales of Calvin Ramsay (Liverpool) and Lewis Ferguson (Bologna) swelled their bank balance by over £7m. A couple of seasons before that, Scott McKenna (Nottingham Forest) and Sam Cosgrove (Birmingham City) exited for over £5m. 'We have got a squad planning and recruitment team in place now which I think will stand us in good stead,' said Cormack. 'Everyone is talking about these analytics and algorithms which everybody is using. But we have been using those for five or six years now. Miovski, Ramadani, a number of players, have come through that. We have tapped in to that.' The Aberdeen chairman expects winger Topi Keskinen, who featured prominently for Finland at the European Under-21 Championship finals in Slovakia this summer and scored goals in draws with the Netherlands and Denmark, to be the next recruit to bring in a sizeable return on their investment. 'There is a reason we have paid £1m for Topi,' he said. 'Listen, in the last five years we have managed to sell just over £20m worth of players. That is significant income for us. The trick is balancing that with being competitive. 'Our scouting needs to be excellent so we can unearth and get value from players. But people want to come to Aberdeen now because they know they will get an opportunity to move on to a bigger club.' Read more: Cormack has come in for fierce criticism from supporters and media commentators – including from this correspondent – during the six years that he has been chairman despite the huge sums of money which he has personally ploughed in to his boyhood heroes. Before Thelin was brought in last summer, he had a poor track record when it came to appointing managers. The team's results at home and abroad had often left a great deal to be desired because of his bad choices. But he is hopeful that Graeme Shinnie and his team mates can improve further despite having to deal with European group stage football once again next term – something which they struggled badly with when they got into the Conference League two years ago – and play against revitalised Hearts and Rangers teams. 'It's always good to have competition,' he said. 'It's never a worry, it's a challenge. This multi-club environment is an approach other clubs (Hearts, Hibernian and Rangers) are taking is new. But I think it is important we focus on what Aberdeen are doing. You will never get all of your recruitment right. The industry average is 50 per cent. We need to be at 70 to 80 per cent. 'Listen, if I fall under a bus tomorrow I don't want to leave the club in a poor financial position. It has to stand on its own two feet. But we're making a decision to lose £3m or £4m operationally a year as a club. What we have got today is a player trading environment which is allowing us to punch above our weight in terms of recruiting and player wages.'
