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EvENTS & SOCIALS

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maRTini TeRRazza opens in sa

Gardens, showcases a subtle marriage The international and iconic brand, Martini Terrazza opens its door at Benmore Metro in Sandton. In 1948, the French subsidiary decided of urban chic and an exquisite boudoir

The exclusive opening of the new to open a hospitality lounge on the top aesthetic. The dark wooden finishes and elegant cocktail lounge and lunch floor of 52 Champs Elysées. The name, low lighting entices the newcomer with an bar, Martini Terrraza at Metro Martini Terrazza, was adopted only at the elegant bar and lounge seating. Benmore in Sandton, marked the end of the 1950s. This Terrazza became beginning of a new drinking experience renowned in the cinema and within South Africa’s celebrity circle. fashion world. The idea of the international and iconic The Italian architect, Tomaso Buzzi was brand, Martini Terrazza, was born in Paris called in 1960 to decorate it. He had 150 years ago after the Rossi family had a already decorated the Martini Terrazza vision that Martini lovers could congregate in Milan, then Barcelona; and was due to in unique places and locations around work on London and Genoa. The use of the world. In the late 1950s that vision Buzzi was a uniform approach to ensure a became reality in the form of common image in line with the Martini Terrazza. company style. The Martini Terrazza brand became Martini Terrazzas followed in 1961 in established and was immediately a Brussels, in 1963 in São Paulo Brazil and in point of reference for the protagonists of 1964 in London. In 1965 the last Martini intellectual circles and society, in the fields Terrazza was opened in Genoa, Italy. of literature, show business, science, sport or politics. Milan has become synonymous with the Martini Terrazza. In addition to being one In their heyday, there were eight Martini of the symbols of the city, the Martini Terrazzas, seven in Europe and one in Terrazza is a part of the history of South America. About half a century later, Italian society. the tradition continues in Milan and at Pessione, with the same spirit and passion of the early days. This year, celebrating its 150th anniversary, Martini Terrazza at Metro Benmore TV Presenter, Model and Actress, Pearl Thusi during the launch of Martini Terrazza at Benmore.

sa’s gReaTesT songs aT amazink live

Members of the Amazink Live Theatre

South Africa’s first township theatre restaurant, AmaZink, started as an illegal shebeen known as Patricia’s Tavern. The tavern was saved from being demolished when it was issued a liquor license, and then reopened and renamed to AmaZink Live!

AmaZink Live offers the perfect venue and experience for any year-end function, corporate event, tour group and individuals alike. Exclusive shows can also be booked, while the weekly shows are performed on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. The restaurant offers excellent township inspired cuisine designed to show off the very best of South African flavours,as well as a music experience honouring legends such as the late, great queen of South African music, Miriam Makeba, the indomitable Johnny Clegg, the eclectic home grown beats of Mango Groove and many more. AmaZink Live tells the story of a township through the magic of music. Songs in the live performance include familiar favourites such as Pata Pata, The Click Song, Special Star, Skokiaan, Impi and African Dream, to name but a few. The culturally authentic musical encourages an audience interaction and a chorus of entertaining waiters not only serves guests, but makes them a part of the show too.

AmaZink was the runner up for the 2011 Mayoral Tourism Award for Best New Tourism Business and was nominated by the Woordfees in 2012 for the WoordTrofee for Best Contemporary Music Production.

The AmaZink Live Music Production and Theatre runs annually from October to March, and from April to September, the AmaZink Live Restaurant is available as a functions venue offering bar, catering and entertainment services.

For bookings, please contact 072 993 9173

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ab7 – undispuTed key To The aFRican Food and beveRage maRkeT

Almost 9 000 people flocked to the Gallagher Convention Centre in Midrand in July to explore what the 304 exhibitors from 42 countries had to offer the sub-continent’s food and beverage industry. “Africa’s Big Seven (AB7) attracts exhibitor companies locally and from around the world, all keen to tap into the buying power of Africa’s growing middle class,” says John Thomson of show organiser, Exhibition Management Services. “What makes the expo unique is its co-location with the Southern African International Trade Exhibition (SAITEX), a major retail trade show. Together, they form the biggest single event of its kind in Africa.”

“Overwhelming!”, “Excellent!” and “Great turnout!” are a few of the comments from exhibitors describing AB7 this year. One that best sums up Africa’s biggest food and beverage trade show is from Yudi Dahlan from the Indonesian Trade Promotion Centre in Johannesburg: “All exhibitors from my country feel that AB7 is the ‘ultimate showcase’ for their products,” he says. “AB7 is a true door-opener to the African market,” continues Dahlan. “All our exhibitors received excellent feedback from visitors; most of them are positive they have secured deals with potential clients met at the expo. They were also excited to be able to introduce new products.” “The AB7 experience was overwhelming; we received an excellent response from visitors,” says Kavitha Kalicharan, Communications Specialist at Nestlé. “Our main aim this year was to increase awareness of the Nestlé brand as the world’s largest food company. We also succeeded in highlighting Nestlé as a Halaal-certified company. Interestingly, most of the product enquiries we received from visitors were about Nestlé’s seven coffee blends and 14 chocolate brands,” says Kalicharan. Four-time AB7 exhibitor Heat and Control is a leading manufacturer of food processing and packaging equipment systems, with more than 60 years’ experience. “Our booth is already booked for next year!” says Anria Malan, the company’s Project and Sales Manager. “The main aim of being at AB7 was to promote our company, our products and the services we offer to established clients as well as prospective new customers, and we definitely achieved this,” explains Malan. “AB7 gives us an opportunity to broaden our customer database across various industries, both in South Africa and other African countries. We concluded a number of deals at this year’s event, and even received orders on the stand. We left AB7 with more leads, more enquiries and even better relationships than ever before.” Tim Jordan, the sales director for specialist production line equipment supplier J-Pak, is another exhibitor keen to come back next year. “We really had a great turnout of visitors to our stand, and found that small business owners actually had some very good enquiries; most of them were key decision-makers,” says Jordan. “We like to come to Africa’s Big Seven because Southern Africa is a growing market for us, with a lot of interest in US products,” says Yolanda Roundtree, Marketing Supervisor for the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services in the US. “We represent the Southern United States and our role is to introduce US companies to the South African market,” she adds.

Thomson said AB7 has grown considerably in sheer volume, with many repeat exhibitors being joined by newcomers. He says exhibitors are taking more floor space and building bigger and more elaborate display stands. “The show again proves the incredible value of face-to-face contact with potential clients and the importance of being seen; it’s an effective means of establishing new business contacts and finding new customers, especially from other countries in Africa,” Thomson adds.