Do you know where the hawkers get their goods from? For some, it might be a mystery, but those in the know, know their supply comes from Biscuit and Chip Corner in Rembrand Crescent, Heidedal.
Elwin Meyers, or “Oom B”, as he is affectionately known, has been the go-to supplier for many years. Admitting that her husband would be too modest to speak about his business, Bloemfontein Courant spoke to his wife, Chimè Meyers, instead. “When we moved to Bloemfontein 23 years ago he started his business in a bakkie, riding around with his chips and two hawkers.”
Oom B wanted to save the hawkers money that they would otherwise be spending on transport. The rapid growth of the business led to the need for premises from which to manage operations.
“The need became too big, and we started looking for premises,” said Meyers.
“We found it in Heidedal, which was central for everyone.” The business had grown from a bakkie to a physical wholesaler in only six months.
Biscuit and Chip Corner supplies hawkers who are spread across Bloemfontein and its surrounds, but also now supplies school-going children’s parents with ‘puff chips’, sweets, juice, and biscuits. Other wholesalers do compete with Biscuit and Chip Corner, “but it is a price market,” said Meyers. “A hawker will go to the one that is going to charge him 50 cents cheaper.”
News regarding children becoming sick from hawkers’ chips, or expired goods, has affected wholesalers. Meyers addressed this concern and said: “We stock fresh, and people need to be cognisant when they buy these packets and ask the hawkers what their expiry dates are, I feel they should be educated in that.”
Warren Hawkins
