As we move into the festive season, some of the biggest players in the food-service industry have embarked on an extended campaign to play their part in reigniting the restaurant trade by driving foot traffic into their outlets. Following the successful launch of the #OneMealManyThanks campaign in August, it is now time to thank South Africans for their support of sit-down restaurants and to reward Mzansi for doing what they love most … eating out! From 9 November, South Africans can win a R1,000 voucher to get out and eat out! PLUS, their favourite restaurant can win a R10,000 support kit! 

Are you a restaurant owner? Click here to download the #OneMealManyThanks campaign assets and get involved!

How #OneMealManyThanks has helped save the restaurant industry

The restaurant industry has been among the hardest hit by the COVID-19 lockdown, with an estimated 1.8 million people affected across supply chains in South Africa. From the onset of lockdown, Unilever Food Solutions, RCL FOODS, McCain Food Service and Tiger Brands Out of Home Solutions joined forces with leading food-service distributor Bidfood to begin working proactively with each other on the #OneMealManyThanks campaign. They worked with industry and representative bodies such as the Tourism Business Council of South Africa and The Restaurant Collective to assist with the development and circulation of COVID-19 safety directives and the official COVID-19 health and safety app named Travel Safe Eat Safe, aimed at helping the tourism and hospitality industries return to safe operations.

“This supplier collaboration is a first of its kind and has at its heart the many people that restaurants employ, many of whom are family breadwinners,” explains Nicole Harris from Unilever Food Solutions. With the benefit of pooled resources, the R5m #OneMealManyThanks multi-media campaign was launched to educate South Africans about the millions of people that benefit with every meal purchased. On behalf of the chef and kitchen staff, the waitron, barrister, grocer, factory worker, farmer, car guard and everyone in between … come many, many thanks for your support.

#OneMealManyThanks partners with Proudly South African

As it moves into the second phase of its campaign, the consortium is delighted to announce its new partnership with Proudly South African. In October, Proudly South African launched the “It’s Game Time Mzansi” campaign as a clarion call to South Africans to play their part and support local business.

“When we saw the new Proudly South African campaign, it was obvious to us that it had remarkable synergies with what we are trying to achieve with #OneMealManyThanks. The Proudly South African team shared our enthusiasm heartily and have kindly offered to help us spread our message,” says Stewart Jones from RCL FOODS.

“We are delighted to endorse the #OneMealManyThanks initiative in support of local restaurants. It is heart-warming to see how the industry has united to help rebuild our nation and to ensure that jobs are retained in this important sector,” says Happy Ngidi, CMO of Proudly South African. “This initiative aligns perfectly with the message we seek to convey and on which the President himself has put great emphasis. In our latest TV commercial, ‘It’s Game Time, Mzansi’ – which is currently flighting –we call on all South Africans to support our own, whether restaurants or any other product or service provided by local manufactures and service providers.”

How you can win with #OneMealManyThanks

Entering the #OneMealManyThanks competition is easy. All you must do is tag your favourite sit-down restaurant as well as the list of friends you would love to join you on the #OneMealManyThanks Facebook or Instagram page and include the hashtag #OneMealManyThanks.

To give patrons the opportunity to share their positive dining experiences, the collaboration has also partnered with Eat Out – SA Best Guide to SA’s Best Food. Diners can visit our review page and rate their dining experience to stand a chance to win further prizes. #OneMealManyThanks will also share the best user review on Facebook and Instagram each week. Follow #OneMealManyThanks on Facebook for more information as well as the competition terms and competitions.

With the collaboration’s call to South Africans to unite over food, Lindy Arnold from Bidfood urges people to behave responsibly. “COVID-19 is still very much with us and we urge patrons to not let their guard down going into the ‘silly season’. Wear a mask, keep your distance, sanitise your hands and follow the directions that should be in place so that you do not compromise the health, safety and livelihoods of yourself and others.”