Latest news with #PicknPay
TimesLIVE
3 days ago
- Business
- TimesLIVE
Tradition meets convenience
I grew up eating tripe and onions, a traditional Yorkshire dish that my mother mastered for my British father. Tripe, the lining of the cow's stomach, is something you either love or hate. We loved it. Mom's version was made using clean tripe — I later learnt it was soaked in bleach to make it clean and snowy white — and it was cooked slowly in onions and milk till tender. It was one of my favourite dishes, so my interest was piqued when invited to lunch at Tasty Nation eatery, located in a suburban shopping centre in Sunninghill, Gauteng and fast growing in popularity. Here you will find items such as peri-peri chicken, pork ribs and lamb chops among traditional foods like maotwana (chicken feet), mogodu (beef tripe and intestines), thlakwana (slow-cooked cow heels), skopo, sheep head, nhloko (beef head meat), pap, dombolo (steamed bread), samp and beans and even hot-cooked chips — a celebration of a range of dishes that truly reflect South African food culture. At Tasty Nation you can sit down and enjoy the feast, order a takeout or pick up ready-made meals from the well-stocked freezer section. I came home with a doypack of delicious samp and beans and some tender yet chewy ready-prepared chicken feet. I chatted to Kelly Lewis, CEO of Tasty Nation, and asked her where it all started, what was it about offal that she so enjoyed and why the company had chosen to open their first eatery in the northern suburbs of Joburg. Image: Supplied Offal kind of found me, actually. While working on other convenience foods, my partners and I realised there was an entire market of people who loved traditional offal dishes but had little to no access to them in a convenient, ready-made format. Despite its beloved status, offal was largely absent from mainstream food service. I wasn't a chef, but I had a background in sales and a drive to make things happen. So, I took that insight, built a team, and set out to bring these cherished meals to the people who wanted them. And that's been our mission for the past decade — getting offal into as many hot food counters as possible. A year ago, our convenience offering expanded to include a range of frozen meals, now available in Pick n Pay stores nationwide. And most recently, we launched our very first Tasty Nation outlet in Sunninghill, a big step in bringing offal into the everyday food conversation. It will probably surprise you to learn that I didn't grow up eating offal. My mother occasionally cooked dishes like liver and kidney, but I never enjoyed the flavours, or the textures for that matter. I've come to enjoy and respect them more over time, though. Head meat is my offal of choice at the moment. Tasty Nation, in a Sunninghill shopping centre, offers traditional dishes. Image: Supplied Tasty Nation. Image: Supplied We at Hodari Foods have been cooking hundreds of tonnes of offal each month for over a decade, supplying hot food counters across the country. Our move into the quick service restaurant space was a natural extension, which gives our customers the opportunity to enjoy our meals in a comfortable sit-down setting or delivered from our store to their door via their favourite food delivery app. And that's how we came to open our very first restaurant in Sunninghill, where busy people live and their need for traditional foods was a gap in the market. The response to access of traditional foods available on demand — especially in a suburban area — has been overwhelmingly positive. There's a strong appreciation for the convenience of enjoying familiar, culturally rooted meals close to home. It shows that even in our fast-paced, modern lifestyles, people value staying connected to their heritage. In South African traditional food culture offal is a huge favourite, yet many offal dishes still carry a negative stigma. How does your company go about changing this perception? Offal holds a special place in South Africa's culinary heritage and that's why we prepare every dish using trusted recipes and time-honoured cooking methods to deliver the authentic flavours. In celebrating these foods our aim is to bring it to everyone and there's more Tasty Nation restaurants to come, where we serve these beloved dishes in a clean, warm, inviting urban space with a modern design. Cleaning and preparing offal is time consuming; how is this done in the relatively small restaurant kitchen at Tasty Nation? It's very time-consuming, which is what puts a lot of people off cooking offal themselves. Our restaurant kitchen is small, but that's by design. All the cleaning, preparation and cooking is done in our central kitchens, which allows us to offer every meal on our menu all day, every day. More importantly, it ensures consistency — our customers can count on the same great taste at any Tasty Nation location, whether in Sunninghill or beyond — watch this space. 'Low and slow' is the key to cooking offal — using low temperatures and extended cooking times helps break down its tough fibres, resulting in tender meat and richly flavoured broths. We don't marinate offal, as our cooking method itself achieves the flavour infusion and tenderness that marinating does for prime cuts. Spice additions vary greatly from one offal to another. Tripe, for example, is traditionally cooked in its own juices with very little additions, while ingredients such as bay leaves, curry powder and chillies play an important role in transforming other forms of offal into flavourful and aromatic dishes. Pap, steamed bread and samp and beans are popular starch sides enjoyed with an offal stew, and the plate is then completed with cooked vegetables like spinach or cabbage and salads such as tomato salsa, coleslaw or beetroot. Mogodu (tripe) is by far our best-selling dish at Tasty Nation. Other favourites include nhloko (head meat), mutton curry, Gatsby, and braaied meats like beef short rib and brisket, typically served with pap and tomato relish. Which drinks pair well with a steaming bowl of offal? Lagers are a popular pairing with dishes like tripe or head meat. A bold red wine or strong ginger beer is a good option for the same reason, to cut through the richness of the dish. When can we expect more Tasty Nation restaurants opening about Gauteng and the country? The wheels are already in motion for expansion in Gauteng this year. Tasty Nation, Shop 12 Chilli Lane Shopping Centre, Sunninghill, Sandton Open: Monday — Saturday 10am-8pm; Sunday and Public Holidays 10am-8pm
IOL News
5 days ago
- Lifestyle
- IOL News
South Africa's loyalty pioneer, Pick n Pay Smart Shopper, continues to lead the way
Unlock a world of savings with Pick n Pay's Smart Shopper rewards programme, Image: Supplied Image: Supplied In a space crowded with loyalty programmes, Pick n Pay's Smart Shopper remains a standout. It is one of South Africa's most established grocery rewards programmes and a true innovator in the space, leading to it being one of SA's most favourite loyalty programmes. Launched over a decade ago, Smart Shopper has become deeply embedded in the country's shopping culture, delivering meaningful, tangible savings to millions of customers every day. In the past year alone, it returned savings of several billion rands to its members. What truly sets Smart Shopper apart is its dual approach to value - save now and save for later. Members enjoy instant discounts, exclusive deals, and personalised vouchers tailored to their shopping habits. They also earn Smart Shopper points with every purchase, which can be used as cashback whenever they choose to redeem them. To help customers stretch their budgets even further, Smart Shopper has introduced a range of free-to-join lifestyle Clubs. Members of the Wine, Coffee, Baby, Pet, or Pick n Pay Live Well Clubs receive triple points on thousands of products, plus additional discounts. The Live Well Club, in particular, has seen impressive growth since its launch last year as it has made healthier food choices more affordable, with no joining fees or extra costs. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Download the new Pick n Pay Smart Shopper app, Image: Supplied Image: Supplied Adding to the programme's innovation, the newly launched Pick n Pay app has combined the previously separate Pick n Pay asap! and Smart Shopper app, allowing users to view their points balance, access personalised vouchers, join Clubs, and play Smart Hopper, a quick game that unlocks daily bonus vouchers for more savings. The new app also enables Smart Shoppers to earn and spend points when shopping with asap!. These continuous innovations are why Smart Shopper remains one of the country's most popular loyalty programmes. In just the past six months, the programme saw triple digit growth in new sign-ups, showing its continued popularity. Smart Shopper's creativity and impact was recognised at the MMA Smarties Award, Image: Supplied Image: Supplied Smart Shopper was also recognised at the prestigious MMA Smarties Awards, where its "Smart Shopper Price Palooza" campaign earned four accolades for creativity and impact amongst customers. More than just a rewards card, Smart Shopper reflects Pick n Pay's continued commitment to delivering value, convenience, and personalised rewards every day. In an ever-evolving retail landscape, it continues to prove that experience, innovation, and a customer-first approach are a winning combination.
The South African
5 days ago
- Business
- The South African
Braai on a budget: How inflation is turning up the heat on your weekend plans
With headline consumer price inflation rising slightly to 2.8% in April, up from 2.7% in March, South Africans are feeling the pinch, even at the braai stand. Whether you're grilling in your backyard or hosting friends indoors, every cent counts when stocking up on your favourite braai essentials. To help you stretch your rand further, The South African compared the prices of key braai items at Checkers, Shoprite, Pick n Pay, and Woolworths, so you can enjoy the braai without burning your wallet. When it comes to braai supplies, Shoprite stands out as the most wallet-friendly choice. Woolworths, unsurprisingly, tops the price range, while Pick n Pay and Checkers offer competitive pricing on a few key items. Product Checkers Shoprite Pick n Pay Woolworths Traditional Boerewors (per kg) R99.99 R89.99 R114.99 R179.99 Lamb Braai Chops (per kg) R143.99 R162.99 R184.99 R229.00 250g Garlic Bread R44.99 R19.99 R40.99 R59.99 4kg Charcoal R79.99 R79.99 R69.99 R104.99 Baked Beans (can) R17.99 R17.99 R16.99 R25.99 Firelighters R39.99 R29.99 R37.99 R29.99 KWV Five-Year-Old Brandy (750ml) R229.99 R229.99 R229.99 R229.99 Savanna Light Cider (6x330ml) R124.99 R119.99 R124.99 R124.99 Castle Lite Bottles (6x330ml) R94.99 R94.99 R94.99 R89.99 Coca-Cola No Sugar (1.5L) R15.99 R15.99 R21.99 R18.00 Total Cost R893.90 R861.90 R937.90 R1 092.92 *Please note prices are subject to change and were accurate at the time of publishing If you're looking to save the most money, Shoprite comes out on top with a total of R861.90 for all the listed braai essentials. Checkers follows closely behind at R893.90, while Pick n Pay is slightly higher at R937.90. Woolworths is the most expensive at R1 092.92. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
The South African
5 days ago
- Business
- The South African
Payday grocery deals: Who has the cheapest prices this weekend in South Africa?
As South Africans head into month-end with replenished wallets, the pressure is on to stretch those earnings at the till. With the cost of living still climbing, shoppers are hunting for the best bargains to fill their trolleys without breaking the bank. This week, we compared 16 everyday grocery items at Shoprite, Checkers, Pick n Pay, and Woolworths to find out where you can get the most value for your money. Pick n Pay stands out as the most affordable supermarket for essential groceries, offering some relief for budget-conscious shoppers. Here's how the total cost of the basket stacks up this week: Checkers – R854.85 – R854.85 Pick n Pay – R864.84 – R864.84 Shoprite – R886.84 – R886.84 Woolworths – R911.84 Checkers comes out on top as the most affordable option, with a full basket costing R854.85. Pick n Pay follows at R864.84, while Shoprite and Woolworths are the most expensive options this week at R886.84 and R911.84 respectively. SASSA grant recipients can maximise their funds this month by taking advantage of special discounts and in-store promotions. We do not factor in discounts or card-holder specials in this comparison. When the exact name-brand items are not available, we use the nearest alternative house-brand. Due to fluctuations in prices both inland and at the coast in South Africa, the prices below are based on those payable in Gauteng. Product Checkers Shoprite Pick n Pay Woolworths 500g Fatti's & Moni's spaghetti R19.99 R19.99 R19.99 R22.99 400g smooth Black Cat peanut butter R54.99 R54.99 R49.99 R49.99 1kg Jungle Oats R44.99 R44.99 R54.99 R49.99 Joko Strong Quality Teabags 100 pack R66.99 R66.99 R66.99 R57.99 Albany Superior Sliced White Bread Loaf 700g R24.99 R19.99 R18.99 R20.99 Sunfoil Pure Sunflower Seed Oil 2L R64.99 R89.99 R69.99 R84.99 Iwisa Super Maize Meal Bag 2.5kg R39.99 R44.99 R41.99 R38.99 Selati Pure White Sugar Bag 2.5kg R56.99 R72.99 R72.99 R64.99 Clover Full Cream Fresh Milk 2L R32.99 R21.99 R32.99 R38.99 Tastic Long Grain Parboiled Rice 2kg R44.99 R46.99 R35.99 R46.99 Snowflake Cake Wheat Flour 2.5kg R42.99 R42.99 R41.99 R41.99 Dettol Original Bath Soap 175g R18.99 R18.99 R18.99 R18.99 Rama Original 70% Fat Spread 500g R36.99 R29.99 R36.99 R36.99 Nescafe Ricoffy Instant Coffee 750g R144.99 R164.99 R164.99 R168.99 Coca-Cola Original Less Sugar Bottle 2L R27.99 R27.99 R26.99 R27.99 Twinsaver Luxury Twin Ply Toilet Paper 9 Pack R69.99 R89.99 R79.99 R87.99 TOTAL R854.85 R886.84 R864.84 R911.84 *Please note the prices are subject to change and were accurate at the time of publishing. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
The Citizen
6 days ago
- Business
- The Citizen
R5 soup campaign aims to feed thousands this winter
FEED the Nation, in partnership with Pick n Pay, has launched its Soup for SA initiative where customers can purchase a packet of Pick n Pay soup for just R5 and help feed vulnerable communities this winter. The initiative has been launched across all Pick n Pay Hypermarket stores nationwide and will run from May 19 to June 29. Also read: Durban's oldest museum showcases City's heritage Seventy-five percent of the donated soup will be distributed through 2675 Pick n Pay School Club-registered primary schools nationally, while the remaining 25% will be allocated to local civil society organisations selected by each hypermarket. Customers can purchase any quantity of soup packets, swipe their Smart Shopper card, and donate the packets at the designated vehicle trailer near the store entrance. Each soup packet donated equals one entry into a draw where one lucky Smart Shopper will win the trailer. 'As winter sets in, the need for food support grows significantly, especially in vulnerable communities. At Feed the Nation Foundation, we're proud to stand alongside our customers and partners to help meet this increased demand. Together, we're not only providing nourishment but also hope and dignity to those who need it most,' said Deirdre Mullins, national CSI manager at Pick n Pay, supporting Feed the Nation Foundation. The Soup for SA initiative is in partnership with Feed the Nation which celebrated its five-year milestone in April. To date over 45 million food parcels have been distributed to help tackle food insecurity and hunger amongst South Africa's most vulnerable communities. For more from Berea Mail, follow us on Facebook, X and Instagram. You can also check out our videos on our YouTube channel or follow us on TikTok. Click to subscribe to our newsletter – here At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
