Kauai, a leader in the fast casual health food sector, turned 15 years old this April and has just opened its 100th store.
Owned by franchisee Wayne van Bloemenstein, who already has one other Kauai store at Bayside Mall in Cape Town, the new store is at Eden on the Bay Mall in Big Bay, Blouberg.
John Berry, founder and chief innovations officer of Kauai, says: “100 stores is quite a milestone for us as a brand. It’s awesome to realize that it was just a thought or figure in our imagination when we started. It has taken an enormous amount of dedication over the years to get to this point. When I look back, I am amazed at the positive impact so many individuals have had on Kauai.
Many people in our organization have sincerely believed in this brand and what it stands for. Our shareholders have been more then generous over the years even when times were tough. At times our employees have put in effort and hours beyond the call of duty to help make Kauai’s name great.
Our customers have also been very loyal over the years as they were just as excited as we were to see our dream come true. For me it is truly humbling to see a 100 stores operating around the nation and I look forward to Kauai continuing to make a difference in people’s lives.”
Hendrik Coetsee, CEO of Kauai, is already looking forward to the next 100 Kauai stores to open. “It is 15 years since the first store and today it is 100 stores later, time to celebrate a little. I have been fortunate to be part of a great team for the past four years in growing Kauai. It is a great achievement and we are all very proud.
But we are already looking forward to the next 100 stores, all part of our vision to be the first choice in healthy convenience food and recognised as having developed a culture of healthy eating in the world we live in. We believe that healthy eating improves the quality of life.”
Berry added: "The world would be a better place if we took a healthier, more balanced approach to life."
In the picture above at the opening event for the 100th store are from left: Hendrik Coetsee, CEO of Kauai; franchisee Wayne van Bloemenstein; Kauai brand ambassador Roxy Louw; her father Rob Louw, one of the great Springbok rugby players of the recent past; and John Berry, founder of Kauai.
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