Following the success of the Support Stellenbosch restaurant campaign, which ran from September to October last year, the Franschhoek Wine Valley Tourism organisation is launching a similar campaign in November.
The ‘Save The Franschhoek Restaurants Appeal’ aims to raise money to help the region’s restaurants and cafés that have felt the biggest impact from recent restrictions and the overall COVID-19 pandemic.
The restaurant recovery campaign, running in partnership with SnapScan, will include a rewards-based programme whereby locals and visitors receive a voucher after using SnapScan to pay at participating restaurants.
The vouchers will be redeemable via SnapScan at any other restaurant in Franschhoek that is taking part in the campaign. So far, a total of 30 restaurants have signed up for the initiative.
While details about how much customers must spend to receive a voucher are still be finalised, Tourism Update understands that the process will likely be very similar to Support Stellenbosch’s campaign from last year. Patrons received a voucher to the value of 50% of what they spent at a restaurant, provided they spent at least R200 (€11). Vouchers were capped at R400 (€22).
Local businesses are also coming on board with independent initiatives to help those in need, such as wine producer Haute Cabrière. In a campaign launched at the beginning of the lockdown, the winery pledged R100 (€6) for every online order of two cases of wine or more, with free delivery within 48 hours. In addition, Rupert & Rothschild, La Motte Wine Estate, Anthonij Rupert Wyne, Rickety Bridge Winery, Boekenhoutskloof, Boschendal, Old Road Wine Co, Bellingham, and Franschhoek Cellar have all donated, setting total received donations at just over R1.1m (€61 600) so far.
“We welcome initiatives like the ‘Save The Franschhoek Restaurants Appeal’, which is a great campaign to support businesses, especially small businesses,” says David Maynier, Western Cape Minister of Finance and Economic Opportunities. “I’d like to thank those involved in the partnership, and the generous donors for their efforts to save jobs and rebuild our economy in the Western Cape.”
Donations towards the cause can be paid to the Franschhoek Wine Valley Tourist Association, which will be added to the restaurant recovery campaign. Funds raised through both initiatives will be allocated accordingly, to assist in paying rent and staff salaries.
