From Beach to Baskets: Shoprite Checkers’ Jet Ski Delivery Turns Heads in Cape Town
In an innovative marketing move that has captured the imagination of South Africans, Checkers, part of the Shoprite Group Holdings, has tested out the use of jet skis for grocery deliveries. The unique service was recently spotted on the beaches of Clifton, Cape Town, where a branded Checkers Sixty60 jet ski delivered ice lollies to a boat, ensuring they remained perfectly frozen during delivery. The video of the branded jet ski in action quickly went viral on social media, amassing over 1.6 million views and sparking widespread interest in the new initiative.
An Innovative Beach Delivery Concept
The innovative jet ski delivery was part of the Checkers Sixty60 campaign, which aims to highlight the speed and convenience of its grocery delivery service. Videos of the jet ski at Clifton Beach drew widespread admiration, with many commenting on the “flippen brilliant” idea. Aqeela Jayy, one social media user, called it a “brilliant innovative plan,” while others marveled at how it could enhance beach outings, allowing beachgoers to order food and drinks directly to their location.
Checkers’ jet ski delivery service was showcased in an ad where the jet ski quickly navigated the water to deliver goods, including ice lollies, to a boat in a demonstration of just how fast the service could be. The company’s cheeky slogan, “Checkers will literally cross the ocean for you,” caught the attention of many who were eager to see if this service would become a permanent feature at the beach.
A Growing Social Media Frenzy
The idea of a jet ski delivering goods sparked excitement, with many social media users expressing a desire to see the service officially rolled out in time for Boxing Day (December 26). This holiday typically sees thousands flock to the beaches in Cape Town, and many eagerly questioned whether the service would be available at popular beach spots.
Rashied Mohammed Salie, a social media commenter, described the service as “world-class,” stating that he would use it every time he visited the beach if it were available. He painted an image of a future where beachgoers could enjoy a cold beverage or snack delivered directly to them by a jet ski, making it a perfect addition to summer outings.
However, not everyone was convinced. Several users questioned the practicality of the service. One comment raised concerns about how the delivery driver would locate customers among the crowds of beachgoers, especially during the busy holiday season. Monique Gedult questioned how jet skis would navigate the crowded waters, especially with hundreds of people frequenting popular beaches.
Concerns from Local Businesses
While some beachgoers welcomed the convenience of jet ski deliveries, others, like Michail Adams, a beach ice cream vendor at Camps Bay, expressed concern about the potential impact on small businesses. Adams, who relies on his beach trading permit to support his family, argued that larger retailers like Checkers might harm the livelihoods of small traders by offering easy, online food delivery services.
Adams emphasized that the essence of a Cape Town beach experience lies in purchasing from local vendors who provide a unique, hands-on experience. “It’s frustrating that big shops are taking business away from small traders,” Adams said, noting that many people prefer the variety of options available through online orders, which could potentially hurt small vendors who already face competition from large retailers.
A Marketing Masterstroke
Despite the concerns from local businesses, many social media users saw the jet ski delivery as an inventive way to market Checkers’ Sixty60 service, which promises quick grocery deliveries. Joel Steenkamp, a social media user, praised the timing of the campaign, saying, “People are beaching, what better way to market your brand than using a jet ski?” The idea of capturing selfies with a delivery driver on a jet ski further fueled the excitement surrounding the campaign.
Other users, like Charl Bremmer, emphasized that the key message behind the jet ski delivery was Checkers’ commitment to speed and convenience. “The message here is obviously that they are super fast with deliveries, and that it’s as fast as a jet ski,” Bremmer said, acknowledging the playful marketing approach.
A Fun, Yet Practical, Campaign
As the jet ski deliveries continue to gain attention, questions remain about the feasibility of rolling out this service on a larger scale. Would it work at all beaches, or would it be restricted to certain locations? Could it be expanded to include other summer destinations like Muizenberg or Strandfontein?
While some question the logistics and practicality of using jet skis for grocery deliveries, others are simply enjoying the novelty of it. With Checkers showing that they’re willing to explore unconventional methods to stand out in the competitive retail market, the jet ski campaign has definitely made waves, both online and in the water.
TM Foundation: Transforming Lives, One Generation at a Time
In a world where compassion is increasingly vital, TM Foundation stands out as a beacon of hope and empowerment. Established in 2019 by the visionary Olatunde Mukaila Lawal, this South Africa-based organization is dedicated to uplifting the elderly, less privileged kids, and the vulnerable, fostering stronger communities through a mission rooted in dignity, love, and care.
Making an Impact Since 2019
TM Foundation began with a simple yet powerful goal: to create meaningful change for those often overlooked. Since its inception, the foundation has provided vital resources and emotional support to kids, seniors and young individuals, bridging the gap between generations and creating a sustainable future for all.
“We believe in the transformative power of compassion,” says Lawal. “Our work is about more than just helping—it’s about empowering people and building stronger, more resilient communities.”
A Multi-Faceted Mission
TM Foundation operates on three key pillars:
Social Support and Companionship: Ensuring no one feels forgotten, the foundation offers a caring hand and a listening ear to, kids, seniors and others in need.
Promoting Wellness Across Ages:
Through various programs, TM Foundation prioritizes physical, mental, and emotional well-being for all generations.
Fostering Compassion and Understanding: Building bridges of empathy, the foundation strengthens the fabric of communities.
These programs aim to create lasting change by addressing both immediate needs and long-term challenges.
Why You Should Support TM Foundation
TM Foundation’s efforts rely on the support of individuals and businesses who share their vision. Your contribution—whether through donations, volunteering, or spreading the word—directly impacts lives. From funding wellness programs to providing companionship for seniors, every act of kindness counts.
“Together, we can ensure no one feels forgotten or alone,” Lawal emphasizes. “It’s about leaving a legacy of compassion and empowerment.”
How to Get Involved
There are many ways to support TM Foundation:
Volunteer: Offer your time and skills to assist in their programs.
Donate: Your financial contributions help sustain their impactful initiatives.
Raise Awareness: Spread the word about TM Foundation’s mission to inspire others.
Join TM Foundation today and become part of a movement dedicated to empowering seniors and young ones. Together, we can build a brighter, more compassionate future.
Olam Agri and GIZ Sign MoU to Scale Up Sustainable Development in Global Agriculture and Food
Singapore, January 20, 2025 – Olam Agri, a market leading food, feed, and fibre agri-business, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with German development agency Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH to scale up sustainable development in the global agri-food sector. The MoU provides a framework that will facilitate collaboration between the two partners across staple agriculture supply chains that include rice, cotton, and rubber in developing markets in Asia, Africa, and Latin America. This extends and deepens the long-standing partnership that GIZ and Olam Agri have shared over the past 15 years helping smallholder farmers become more productive, profitable, and sustainable.
Three key objectives of the MoU are to support sustainable food production at a range of scales towards climate adaptation while protecting and preserving soil health, biodiversity, and water resources; to improve the livelihoods of smallholder farmers and providing them with access to key services and inclusive opportunities; and establishing sustainability and traceability across agriculture supply chains. This is aligned with Olam Agri’s purpose to transform food and agriculture for a more sustainable and food-secure future.
For joint projects, GIZ and Olam Agri have identified six priority intervention areas: nutrition-sensitive regenerative agriculture; harvest and post-harvest loss reduction; access to finance for smallholders; economic inclusion and rights; management of crop residues and reuse; and ecosystem services, including protection and restoration of ecosystems and carbon initiatives. Both partners will continue to identify topics relevant across value chains and regions to drive innovation and scaling, with possible cross-sectoral issues including climate and carbon credits, landscape-scale approaches, and digitisation.
Sunny Verghese, Co-Founder & Group CEO of Olam Agri, said: “We’ve shared a strong and fruitful relationship with GIZ over the years during which we’ve made significant inroads in transforming smallholder farming in several supply chains across many geographies to be more productive, profitable, and sustainable. I am thrilled to be signing this MoU with such a valuable partner that is GIZ and commit to collaborate even further to scale up our sustainability programmes in developing and emerging agriculture economies.”
Anna Sophie Herken, Managing Director at GIZ said: “The signing of this MoU with Olam Agri marks a pivotal step forward in our collaborative efforts towards sustainable food production. I am very happy and grateful that we can deepen and broaden our cooperation efforts simultaneously. We look forward to enhancing the scope and impact of our successful projects in climate-smart farming.”
The MoU builds upon years of successful cooperation between the two organisations since 2008. Starting in Africa, the partnership has expanded through several key initiatives. In the rice supply chain, for example, the progress the partnership has made with the founding of the Sustainable Rice Platform (SRP) in 2011 has led to positive transformation of the sector by advancing sustainable rice cultivation. Through climate-smart methods and technologies, sustainable rice cultivation reduces usage of water and fertilisers, and consequently significantly reduces the emission of methane, a greenhouse gas contributing to global warming. Under the joint efforts of GIZ and Olam Agri, the Market Oriented Smallholder Value Chain (MSVC) rice project in Southeast Asia has improved the livelihoods of more than 28,000 smallholder farmers and their families in four years, raising their incomes by 20 per cent while reducing their ecological impact. GIZ and Olam Agri continue to engage smallholder rice farmers in Southeast Asia in large scale projects and currently also cooperate in a regional sustainable cotton project in Togo, Côte d’Ivoire, and Chad, and in sustainable natural rubber in Côte d’Ivoire and Indonesia.
World Bank Debars Nigerian Companies Over Corruption in Social Safety Net Project
By femi oyewale
The World Bank Group has announced the 30-month debarment of two Nigerian companies, Viva Atlantic Limited and Technology House Limited, along with their Managing Director and CEO, Mr. Norman Didam, for engaging in fraudulent, collusive, and corrupt practices linked to the National Social Safety Nets Project in Nigeria.
In a statement released on Monday, the World Bank detailed unethical actions during the 2018 procurement and contract processes for the project, which was designed to provide financial assistance to poor and vulnerable households.
“The World Bank Group today announced the 30-month debarment of two Nigeria-based companies—Viva Atlantic Limited and Technology House Limited—and their Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Mr. Norman Bwuruk Didam. The debarment is in connection with fraudulent, collusive, and corrupt practices as part of the National Social Safety Nets Project in Nigeria,” the statement read.
Allegations and Findings
According to the World Bank, Viva Atlantic Limited, Technology House Limited, and Mr. Didam misrepresented a conflict of interest in their bids and gained access to confidential tender information from public officials. These acts violated the bank’s Anti-corruption Framework.
The companies and Mr. Didam also falsified experience records, submitted fake manufacturer authorization letters, and offered inducements to project officials, further undermining the integrity of the initiative aimed at assisting Nigeria’s most vulnerable populations.
The statement added, “Viva Atlantic Limited and Mr. Didam misrepresented Viva Atlantic Limited’s experience and submitted falsified manufacturer’s authorization letters, as well as offered and provided things of value to project public officials. These actions were fraudulent and corrupt practices, respectively.”
Sanctions and Compliance Measures
The debarment bars the two companies and Mr. Didam from participating in World Bank-financed projects and operations for the next 30 months. As part of their settlement agreements, the parties admitted their culpability and agreed to meet specific conditions, including enhanced compliance measures.
Mr. Didam is required to complete individual ethics training, while both companies must strengthen their internal integrity policies and implement corporate ethics training programs aligned with the bank’s Integrity Compliance Guidelines.
The World Bank noted that reduced debarment periods were granted due to the parties’ cooperation during the investigation, voluntary corrective actions, self-imposed restraints from bidding, and the time elapsed since the infractions.
Broader Implications
The debarments are subject to cross-debarment by other multilateral development banks under the 2010 Agreement for Mutual Enforcement of Debarment Decisions, further limiting the companies’ ability to participate in international development projects.
The World Bank reiterated its zero-tolerance policy on corruption, emphasizing that the implicated parties must fulfill the stipulated conditions during the debarment period to regain eligibility for future Bank-funded initiatives.
“The companies also commit to continue to fully cooperate with the Bank Group Integrity Vice Presidency,” the statement concluded.
This development underscores the World Bank’s commitment to ensuring transparency and accountability in its projects, particularly those aimed at improving the livelihoods of the world’s most vulnerable populations.