With little practical or immediate relief in sight for most restaurants and bars, Stella Artois, one of SA’s best-loved premium beers in the SAB stable, has launched the #SaveYourSpot initiative that aims to put much-needed financial relief into the hands of these businesses.
Stella Artois has created an online platform where consumers can buy a voucher for their favourite local restaurant or bar.
The premium beer brand said that with every voucher purchased it will add an additional 50% of the value of each voucher.
It added that consumers who buy vouchers will be able to redeem them at their favourite local spot after the lockdown and enjoy 150% of the value they paid for them.
The restaurant or bar itself benefits from the support of their patrons (and the added donation from Stella Artois) whilst still being closed for business – providing immediate financial relief to pay wages and keep their business afloat whilst their doors remain shut.
Stella Artois is investing R1.5 million in the #SaveYourSpot initiative and (together with the amounts consumers pay toward their vouchers) effectively translates to a much-needed R4.5 million cash injection into the food and beverage industry.
After the 50% incentive bonus runs dry, Stella Artois has committed to still oversee and run the online platform, in the hopes that a movement toward rallying for restaurants and bars will continue. They will thus continue to facilitate the purchase of vouchers and their value being transferred directly to the outlets they relate to.
How can consumers buy vouchers?
Visit www.rallyforyourbarandrestaurant.com. Search for your favourite bar or restaurant, then select the value of the voucher you’d like to buy (choose from R100, R250 or R500 options). Facilitated by PayFast, your online purchase will be followed by a confirmation email and an electronic voucher thereafter. If your favourite local spot is not already on the list, you can nominate it and Stella Artois will get hold of them directly to try and get them listed ASAP.
How can restaurants and bars sign up?
For restaurants and bars to register, they can use this link:
https://rallyforyourbarandrestaurant.com/pages/add-your-bar-or-restaurant
After your outlet is officially listed on the website, you will also be free to rally your patrons to buy vouchers through whatever means you choose.
Vijay Govindsamy, Commercial Director High End Company at SAB, insists however that this initiative is not about building the Stella Brand, but about saving businesses
“Most restaurants and bars have about 16 days worth of cashflow reserves to keep their business afloat. That’s a global average. For many South African outlets, that figure will be significantly less. If we hope to see our favourite local spots survive this lockdown, we need to rally together and do what we can to support them now – when they need our help the most.
“This initiative is born out of genuine love for our restaurants and bars. It’s a love we share with most South Africans who are famously sociable and gregarious the world over. It’s a movement that we hope will eclipse our own involvement, reminding the public that when we come together to savour life and support what we cherish, we can make a big difference. By buying a voucher to #SaveYourSpot, you’re investing in the good times that still lie ahead – you’re investing in hope.”
