Burger King and Pepsi collaborates on a new virtual game giving away renowned Artist African Ginger NFT’s with an estimated value of $260 000. Some things work better together than others, in fact something legendary happens when the right things come together –  like Burger King and Pepsi. Leaning into the power of the perfect partnership, this December 2022 and January 2023 will see the winning combo combine to collaborate with hot Mzansi artist, African Ginger, with ‘X Marks the Drop.’

During these two months, South Africans are invited to take part in a nationwide search for virtual tokens, with an opportunity to win an original African Ginger piece of art and NFT worth $25 000; 1 of 10 000 limited editions African Ginger NFTs (with an estimated total value of $260 000), along with 20 000 free Whoppers up for grabs. Along with this, offers like discount codes or free PEPSI with meals purchased can be won each day.

Seth Pimentel, A.K.A. African Ginger, is known for his unique illustrative style. He creates art with depth and meaning but he is often pushing boundaries by merging traditional and digital work into a hybrid of experimentation. His works for ‘X Marks the Drop’ are consistent with his style whilst still incorporating Burger King and Pepsi brand colours.

Head of Marketing for Burger King SA, Ezelna Jones, says “Gen Z grew up online playing games so combining the world of a digital token hunt and NFTs is a natural transition, especially for those seeking to own an original digital picture from African Ginger. For fashion and traditional art, Gen Z members express their personalities through the digital art they collect, including NFTs that represent their passions. ‘X Marks the Drop’ with Pepsi ticks all the boxes as we offer them the opportunity to be incentivised for doing something they would normally be doing while gamifying their experience with our brands.” 

“I am incredibly proud of the successful partnership we have built over the past 9 years with Burger King and PepsiCo, this Collab of two great brands is one more step to show South Africa how innovative we can be in this channel. We wish all our loyal customers and consumers all the best in their virtual hunt for tokens,” says Martin Charles of PepsiCo SA. 

The virtual hunt is a collaborative piece created by Because Creative Experiences and their technology partners Inner Reality supported with media strategy and execution by Initiative Media.

  ●      To play, go to www.bkxpepsi.co.za on your mobile device or scan the QR code on one   of the posters in store.

●      Register your details and sign in.

●      Identify your closest BK drop or drop a token right in front of you.

●      Open the AR mode to view the token and collect.

●      Click the ‘X’ token in your Whopper Wallet to see what you’ve won.

●      Save the code and redeem it at a BK store.

For more information, head to the Burger King site. X Marks the Drop will run until 31 January 2023.

It certainly would not be a shocking claim to say that international brands are usually associated with good quality for the average South African. When someone comes across a product that seems to be of quality, it is easy for them to assume that it’s a product with its origin from international countries. This following information means everyone gets to see how the country stand out and innovate. These are the brands we will be highlighting.

American Swiss

This first brand is almost guaranteed to make people gasp, mainly due to the name. American Swiss is one of the largest jewellery stores in the country, with multiple stores in different provinces across the country. The company was started shortly after the founder, Isiah Hirschonn arrived in South Africa in 1896. He arrived with a suitcase filled with watches, some Swiss and others American. Soon after, the business opened its doors in Cape Town.

American Swiss really began to bloom around 1967 when Foschini approached the company in order to have American Swiss in its stores outside of Cape Town. At this moment, Clive Hirschonn came to realise how big American Swiss could be if backed by Foschini and Stanley Lewis, so he agreed to the offer of being taken over. That is how South Africa got its own jewellery giant.

Superbalist

Another brand that had its humble beginnings in South Africa is the famous online fashion retailer known as Superbalist. What is interesting is that this was not even its first name, the platform was launched as Citymob in November of 2013. The brand platform began to use the name Superbalist in 2013.

The brand extended its reach beyond the fashion industry and into the larger lifestyle category. Superbalist is constructed upon three verticals which is the male fashion, female fashion, and the areas that its customers call home. It released the mobile app in late 2015, and the third of its sales are recorded through it, demonstrating how important mobile is for reaching the millennial market. It’s inspiring to see that much like the US with Amazon, SA is able to have its own online retail platform that became a household name.

Fabiani

Dont let the fancy sounding name fool you, Fabiani was founded in South Africa , in 1978. It is devoted to Italian-inspired design and tailoring, as well as distinctive craftsmanship, excellent construction, and striking colours. The brand’s initial concentration was on selling premium suits, but as luxury casual wear, shoes, and accessories were gradually added, clients now have access to a full range of menswear options. The brand has grown to have a reputation of being associated with being more upperclass.

Their online store and their retail locations around South Africa carry The Fabiani Collection. Along with their seasonal in-house designs, they also carry a number of foreign brands, such as G-Star RAW, Happy Socks, and Comme des Garçons Perfums.

Relay Jeans

Relay Jeans is an original, authentic, and proudly South African brand of denim. Relay Jeans brand is more than simply denim, it’s about all the fashions that go into a denim-centric way of life. In a way it the brand represents a culture. Relay also offers fashion that includes the freshest styles and the newest undeniably denim trends.

Although South Africa has been producing high-quality goods for us, it is never at the forefront when it comes to the most well-known brands, but the country continues to build and create brands every year, bigger brands at that. People need to get know these brands, and to support them.

Tastic is known for making rice all over the country which allows people to explore new recipes with their range. It’s is versatile, convenient and economical, not also forgetting that it is healthy.The well-known South African brand Tastic has recently introduced rice cakes and chips that were created for every snackist.

Tastic hosted a media launch on the 14 December 2022 at Summer Place in Hyde Park, inviting all media houses, giving them the opportunity to see and taste the launched products. At the media launch the Tiger Brands Marketing Director, Thembi Sehloho said that the goal of the new range of rice chips and cakes was to make a snack that everyone could eat as much they wanted without feeling guilty for finishing the whole bag. She also pointed out how the newly launched snacks are a healthier option, hence going with the slogan, “The good you need with the taste you want”.

FunTastic Media Launch

The FunTastic event included the fabulous Somizi Mhlongo as the MC and Chef Nti who introduced the harvest table that had all the flavours of the chips and rice cakes created by Chef Lerato. The harvest table had every rice chips flavour paired with a dip and the rice cakes had different toppings that had fruits on the side.

The event also had Chef Lentswe who was introducing menu for the day that served different types of canapes for the starter and rice with lamb, rice with fish as main course. For closing entertainment, they had Lamiez Holworthy setting the vibes, allowing everyone to have the chance to relax, network and engage with the media.

Thembi Sehloho also said the newly launched rice chips are air popped and have 56% less fat, which will be available in retail stores around Gauteng. The chips are available in four flavours, BBQ flavour, Sour Cream Cheese, Mrs H.S Balls Sweet chilli and Mrs H.S Chutney (which comes in 20g and 85g pack) and the rice cakes which are available with three options: the original, salted and multigrain (which comes in a 115g pack). The products will be going for R9,99 20g, R22,99 85g and the rice cakes will be R24,99 115g pack.

“I do not give up easily as I am very patient person by nature” – Nkosinathi Fani Masilela

Nkosinathi Fani Masilela has experienced failure so much that he knows it like the back of his hand and has not only seen failure ,tasted it, touched it, smelt it but still refused to be defined by it.

Fani failed so much that failure became something that he wasn’t scared of anymore. Instead of adversity breaking him down, it however did the opposite as he used it to build himself and moulded his strong character and resilient spirit. “Failure taught me patience and the ability to have faith and hope in the unknown,” Fani said.

It may have taken him a decade to complete a three-year national diploma Marketing course, Fani also spent full 8 years running a business that brought zero profits. Born and bred in Siyabuswa, Mpumalanga he was only 14 when he left home to pursue a better life in Pretoria. In 2012, Fani founded Sqomani Authentic Wear, when he was just 21-years-old utilising his limited pocket money.

 He credits his incredible faith and unshakable hope that pushed him to keep trying and pushing again and again until more people warmed up to his brand. “I still don’t know how I managed to stay in a business for 8 years without profit but when you have hope, you have faith as you hold a belief that says the future will be better,” he said.

Fani wasn’t really bothered when his company wasn’t making money as he was having fun while pushing his brand and taking it places. “This is more like a hobby, making money out of it is actually a bonus for me,” he said with pride.

Fani believed he may have failed at love too after a decade-long relationship, which seemed unbreakable collapsed unexpectedly. “I got dumped after 10 long years of dating, so failure is nothing new to me,” he stated. However, the support structure he received from his family and their belief in him despite the many setbacks also played a part in keeping him going with his brand and studies.

Although he felt embarrassed about struggling to complete his marketing diploma, he still persevered and ensured that he completed his qualification. Hope and faith are now some of the core values of his company, Sqomani Authentic Wear which has continued to grow in leaps and bounds. “We at Sqomani Authentic Wear believe that with hope and faith anything situation can change for the better. All one has to do is to put in the work while hoping that the situation will improve and change,” Fani said.

Despite the setbacks he has faced, Fani got an opportunity to dress the entire Drip Footwear staff for their 14^th store opening at Phola Mall near Kwamhlanga, his proudest moment so far and he said it was the start of a very good relationship with the Drip brand. Despite the evident hurdles, perseverance, enthusiasm, and the joy of developing things made it simpler for him to remain the course.