Just six months after being named SUPERSPAR and TOPS at SPAR of the Year – the first time a retailer has taken home both awards in a single reporting period – St Francis Bay’s Village Square store has come up trumps again.
At the group’s recent members’ meeting, SUPERSPAR Village Square owner, Richard Moolman, received the SPAR Retail Award for his leadership in making the outlet the Eastern Cape’s favourite port of call for groceries.
For the former chartered accountant, the accolade came as a complete surprise given that there were so many other contenders at the ceremony held at the Sunshine Coast’s Mpekweni Resort.
“When I got the award there were so many legends around me, people who had been with SPAR for 30 years. I thought, “How could they pick me?”
“It was not something I expected, but it’s something I always wanted to achieve,” said Moolman.
He paid tribute to his 84 staff and wife Joha.
“My staff have been with me a long time. The fact is you can’t be a good retailer without them. There’s also no chance I would have got to where I am without my wife’s support. When my children were younger, she looked after them while also being a part of the business.”
SUPERSPAR Village Square opened in July 2008 and Moolman acknowledged it had not all been plain sailing in those early days.
He was part of a group of accountants who took over, and management was not always up to scratch. That was when he stepped in to steer the ship and the rest, as they say, is history.
“I went from being a bean counter to a baked beans salesman,” he quipped.
Moolman was born in Middelburg in the Eastern Cape, and grew up in De Aar, studying in Potchefstroom before finding his way back to his home province. He praised the coastal town’s community; they were as much a part of the store as it was a part of them, he said.
“They have really embraced us and know all my staff by name and the staff also know their children’s names. It’s such a great relationship.
“Someone can walk in and our baristas already know their coffee order. I love this community.”
Moolman was not the only retailer to come away a winner from the awards function.
Young Achiever: Wessel Erasmus – SUPERSPAR Protea;
Pioneer Award: Peter and Leigh-Anne Barnes – SUPERSPAR Sunridge;
Spirit of Leadership Award: Mark Geldenhuys – Distribution Centre; and
Think Retail Award: Cathleen Johannes – Distribution Centre.
– ISSUED BY FULL STOP COMMUNICATIONS ON BEHALF OF SPAR EASTERN CAPE
