BUSINESS NEWS - A Plettenberg Bay supermarket has won seven regional and two national awards in nine years.
Having established itself as SPAR Eastern Cape’s premier store in its category, KWIKSPAR Beacon Isle stands on the cusp of more greatness.
Should owner Duncan Brown and his team claim the national KWIKSPAR of the Year title for a third time they will become the first in the country to achieve the milestone.
South Africa’s KWIKSPAR of the Year will be announced at a convention in September.
Not one to follow the traditional rules of the sector, Brown admits that his approach to retail has always been a “bit different”.
“I’m one for staying up to date with the latest technologies, fridges and freezers,” he says.
“You have to keep reinvesting and reinventing yourself. We don’t sit back; we are always thinking of something new.”
The self-proclaimed foodie offers delicious poké bowls at his store and is changing it up even further with a focaccia bar and ramen bowls.
He believes customers should always have something intriguing to sample for the very first time.
“If you don’t love food, you can’t be in retail,” he says.
“In this store I’ve done everything from cutting meat to baking. I cook at home to get it right and then teach the managers.”
KWIKSPAR Beacon Isle in Plettenberg Bay racks up awards year after year thanks to its fresh approach to retail.
There have been other inspired moves over the years to keep things progressive at 1 Beacon Isle Drive. These include introducing a bakery on site and enhancing the coffee-shop experience with bigger lounge suits and an outside deck.
The shop’s Bean Tree offering was named the best in the country in 2025 after outselling its closest national rivals four coffees to one.
Even though he seems to have everything under control, Brown still spends a lot of time to get the basics just right.
“Our standards have always been very high in terms of cleanliness and controls and we’ve maintained that.”
The look-and-feel also goes a long way to setting the mood, according to him.
“We spend time on merchandising. Things must have their place and the back areas must be in good nick.”
Another major contributor to the shop’s success story is its staff, half of whom have been on the payroll for more than a decade.
They have become firm favourites with customers, who love interacting with familiar faces who know exactly what they want when they walk through the door.
Should the store claim that unique hat-trick of national titles in September, someone very special will stand alongside Brown to celebrate the occasion.
His daughter Caitlyn joined the business earlier this year and, while she is still learning the ropes, he has been impressed by what he has seen so far.
“She’s got my eye for neatness and cleanliness,” the proud dad says.
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