Latest news with #Steers
IOL News
21-06-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Famous Brand shows financial resilience despite tough year marked by deteriorating infrastructure
Famous Brands, owns Wimpy, Steers and Debonairs among other brands Image: File Famous Brands, Africa's largest restaurant franchisor, reported a resilient financial performance for the year ended 28 February 2025 in its annual report, despite challenging operating conditions marked by a deteriorating infrastructure environment, and cash-strapped consumers. The group, which owns and franchises major South African food brands such as Steers, Wimpy, Debonairs Pizza, Mugg & Bean, and Fishaways, posted a 3.2% rise in revenue to R8.28 billion, up from R8.02 billion the previous year. Operating profit grew by 12.6% to R914 million, while headline earnings per share climbed to 520 cents, from 465 cents in 2024. CEO Darren Hele credited the group's performance to disciplined cost containment, brand resilience, and a robust business model. 'Our financial results are thanks to strong cost control, the enduring appeal of our brands, and the resilience built into our business,' Hele said in the annual report. However, Hele did not shy away from describing the difficulties the company faced. 'South Africa is an increasingly tough market to operate in, with rising costs and failing infrastructure,' he noted. Citing power supply issues, he added that Eskom's electricity tariffs increased by 12.7% in July 2024 and are expected to rise by another 11.3% in July 2025, with future hikes likely. Hele pointed to logistics disruptions at South African ports and poor road conditions as additional threats to operations. 'Delays at ports mean we must hold more stock or source from costlier suppliers to avoid shortages,' he said. 'Infrastructure failures - including potholes and malfunctioning traffic lights - have a knock-on effect on consumer behaviour, leading to reduced late-night foot traffic and earlier dining patterns.' Access to clean, reliable water also emerged as a growing concern. 'Water supply has become increasingly unreliable. We are investing in filtration, recycling, and storage at our plants, particularly where water use is highest,' Hele said. As of year-end, 56% of the group's South African restaurants had secured alternative water solutions. 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. 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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. Next Stay Close ✕ Despite these obstacles, Famous Brands maintained its expansion momentum. Chairperson Chris Boulle praised the resilience of franchise partners who, he said, continued to open and refurbish outlets despite rising electricity, labour, and input costs. Famous Brands has a healthy pipeline of new restaurant openings planned for 2026. He noted the 2025 financial year was characterised by low consumer spending, especially in the first half. To remain competitive, the group made strategic trade-offs, balancing support to franchisees and affordability for customers. This included carefully deciding which supply chain costs to absorb and which to pass on, all while maintaining viable margins across the system. Famous Brands continues to invest in operational efficiency and scalability. A major milestone was the June 2025 opening of a new cold storage facility at the Midrand Campus, a project completed on time and within budget as part of a broader logistics optimisation plan. The group is also focused on modernising its manufacturing plants over the next three years and enhancing its back-end technology to support cost-effective delivery and front-end customer service.
The South African
15-06-2025
- Politics
- The South African
'DEMANDING' unemployed refugee applicants told to be patient
US intelligence analyst Chris Wyatt has cautioned 'demanding' refugee applicants to exercise patience as they await a call back from authorities. He's also warned the group and other South Africans that the 'golden ticket' offer to 'persecuted' people is NOT a job programme. In February, President Donald Trump signed an Executive Order fast-tracking the status of white Afrikaners and other racial minorities. In a video uploaded to his social media account, Chris Wyatt responded to South Africans who had inundated him with messages about their refugee resettlement programme applications. The retired military colonel has taken an interest in the plight of 'persecuted' minorities in South Africa, one of them being Afrikaners. Admitting to being 'frustrated', he said: 'Here is some advice for anxious and impatient people: get on with your lives. When the call comes, the call comes. 'People are being offered the most amazing gift possible under the unbelievable circumstances – where no one gave a c**p and completely ignored your plight – to become quite demanding. He added of refugee applicants: 'Did you really think they would call you the next day? Honestly, you have very unrealistic expectations about how the world works. 'You had no offer [before]. You're not paying for this. We, the American taxpayers, are paying for this. We're not invading your country; you're coming here, at our invitation. '… You're not entitled to this. It's not a right; it's a gift.' @edlin1344 Has the South Africa Refugee Program stopped NO#edlin1344 ♬ original sound – Edlin In the clip, Chris Wyatt also claimed the refugee progamme was not a job programme for unemployed South Africans. He said: 'Let's be clear about something…I'm getting increasingly distressed messages from people, and they're articulating completely the wrong reasons why they want to participate in the programme. About 50% of the messages are from people who say they do not have a job. Well, this isn't a job scheme. We are not bringing South Africans to America to give you jobs…we don't need South Africans to do jobs, we don't need your skills, we don't care what you contribute. South African 'refugees' – predominantly white Afrikaners – have expressed interest in the refugee programme. Images via X: @usembassysa 'If that's what you are coming for, and you are complaining that it is taking too long, then you need to put your CV in somewhere else, at Steers, Debonairs, or Eskom. He added: 'That's the bottom line.' According to the US Embassy, applicants for the refugee programme must meet the following criteria. Be South African Be of Afrikaner ethnicity or be a member of a racial minority in South Africa. Must be able to articulate an experience of persecution or fear of future persecution. Applicants who met the criteria were encouraged to complete and submit a Statement of Interest form. In line with US President Donald Trump's claims of 'racial discrimination', applicants must prove that they have been 'persecuted' in their applications. In the Statement of Interest form, applicants are required to specify if the 'persecution' was based on race, religion, nationality, political opinion, membership of a social group, or a fear of 'future harm'. Other questions included when the prospective 'refugee' would like to travel to the US, how many family members they would like to bring, and if interested parties have a valid passport. 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.
IOL News
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- IOL News
Say cheese, score a burger! Steers rewards Mzansi's cheesiest smiles with tasty tech twist
Your cheesy smile could win you a Steers burger Steers launched a selfie booth that uses facial recognition software to reward Mzansi's cheesiest smiles with enticing burger deals. At the heart of this innovative promotion lies a well-loved tradition that transcends cultures – the art of smiling for photos. Globally, people incorporate playful words to elicit genuine smiles. While China favours "qiézi" (eggplant) and South Korea opts for "kimchi," South Africans proudly embrace the classic "cheese." Recognising this unique connection, Steers capitalised on this cultural staple, inviting customers to participate in a fun game that not only captures their smiles but also celebrates deliciousness.
The South African
06-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The South African
South Africa's cheesiest smiles the currency for the cheesiest burgers
Globally, people smile for photos by saying all kinds of quirky words. From 'qiézi' (eggplant) in China to 'kimchi' in Korea, cultures have their own ways to show their best smile. But in Mzansi and other English speaking markets, we say 'cheese'. Steers took this opportunity to use facial recognition software and created a selfie booth with a difference. Video here: Steers, the home of the Flame-Grilled taste , turned a global photo tradition into cheesy deliciousness: 'The Cheesier the Smile, the Cheesier the Reward.' This is our way of bringing joy and the iconic Flame-Grilled taste, that is proudly South African, to the streets. Flame-Grilled. It just tastes better.
Sydney Morning Herald
06-06-2025
- Climate
- Sydney Morning Herald
‘I won't get excited until my hair is wet': This weekend is make or break for farmers
The battered mental health of many drought-stricken farmers hinges upon a cold front forecast to dump rain across much of the state this weekend. Rain began falling in parched areas of south-west Victoria on Friday morning, bringing some relief to communities suffering through record-low rainfall over the past 18 months. But rain seemed to bypass other areas. Farmers hope this cold front signals the start of a wet winter as they desperately seek hay and feed to nourish livestock in dusty, barren paddocks. North central Victorian farmer and agricultural consultant Belinda Steers said farmers throughout Victoria were battling some of the worst conditions they had experienced. 'This is the one rainfall event that will make or break people,' she said. 'Mental health-wise I probably haven't seen farming at such a low point.' Loading Steers had to buy water for her home after her tanks ran dry. She said even heavy rain in coming days would not result in immediate grass growth because the ground was too cold. But rain would bring hope, Steers said. 'It just gives people that optimism that it can still rain.' Victorian Farmers Federation president Brett Hosking said farmers in the most drought-stricken areas would need at least 10 millimetres of rain to make a difference, although they were hoping for much more.
