Portia Mngomezulu Written by Janine Caradonna on behalf of Pick n Pay Portia Mngomezulu was awarded Pick n Pay’s 2018 Small Supplier of the Year award Local entrepreneur Portia Mngomezulu, founder of Portia M Skin Solutions , was awarded Pick n Pay’s 2018 Small Supplier of the Year award for her business’ exceptional growth performance and job creation. The annual award recognises and rewards the company’s top performing small supplier in the country across various categories. When Portia gave birth to her son in 2010, she not only embraced motherhood, but also entrepreneurship. After developing stretch markets during her pregnancy, her mother-in-law suggested Marula oil to treat the scarring. The results were so impressive that Portia wanted to share it with those closest to her. Investing R200 initially, Portia bought Marula oil directly from rural women in Limpopo, bottled it herself and began selling it as a side-business. The profit she made on each bottle was reinvested...

FASA appoints its first franchisee as chairman John Baladakis For the first time in its 36-year history, the Franchise Association of South Africa (FASA) has appointed one of its franchisee members as Chairman for 2015. John Baladakis is a Pick n Pay Franchisee.  His appointment comes at a time when the country needs to grow its economic base on every front, particularly in the small business sector. FASA was established as the franchising sector in South Africa was finding its feet. Today the GDP contribution of the franchising industry is estimated at almost 10%, with an excess of 620 franchised systems operating and over 31 000 franchised businesses countrywide who, in turn employ about 323 500 people in the sector. In his address at the FASA AGM, John Baladakis said he intended to build on the work done by the association over the 36 years of its existence.  “As a franchisee that benefited from the opportunities that franchising afforded me in the field of entrep...