”Blame Mr Salad!”

“Mr Salad.” (Tannie Slaai)

This seems to be the standard answer to questions posed to hostesses in Hartbeespoort when asked whether they had cooked the delicious meals or baked the scrumptious cakes themselves.

Mr Salad, a local business in Schoemansville, also affectionately known as “Tannie Slaai” among Afrikaans-speaking customers, has become a well-known landmark and popular one-stop shop for those who cannot, do not wish to and do not have time to prepare meals or snacks. 

Food fundis, household goddesses, those whose own efforts are cringeworthy and pensioners alike, often turn to this popular food outlet to save the day. Then they shyly admit that the compliments they receive should really be going to “Mr Salad.”

We got to meet the owner, 80-year old Rina Fritze and her twin daughters, Lalie and Kiekie, who are actively involved in this successful family business. Rina is a shortish, motherly woman who laughs a lot. 

It all started in 2002 when Rina and her husband Joe, decided to move from Standerton to Hartbeespoort to retire here and to help their eldest daughter, Barbara, a single parent, with the grandchildren, she says. 

The twins worked in Pretoria and Hartbeespoort respectively. So it seemed like a good idea to move closer to the family. 

During a prior visit to Hartbeespoort Rina and Joe visited the small (then franchise) shop Mr Salad where only salads, vetkoek and curry and rice were available at the time.

“Tell me when you want to sell this business and make me an offer,” Rina told the owner.

Rina springs from a family of foodies. 

“My mother and my grandmother loved to cook. My three daughters cook as well.”

Rina was responsible for the catering at the matric farewell of the high school in Standerton where she used to work. When she took the lead in the kitchen, it was the first time that the school showed a profit with the matric farewell.

“I could not just sit around in Hartbeespoort and do nothing. Well, this business turned out to be my pension,” she laughs.

It was a wise decision. The name stuck and Mr Salad became increasingly popular. Barbara, who initially opened the shop with Rina, became her partner and soon after the twins resigned from teaching and joined them. The hours are much better, they say.

Even Joe (85) has become actively involved.

“His nickname is Joe Gou (Quick) as he is often ordered to hurry up.”

Rina smiles appreciatively. “Joe spreads butter on the garlic loaves and opens up the shop daily. He is an early bird. And he has turned into a master chef. He is especially particular about the way the cheese should be grated at just the right length.”

Rina admits though, that she is fond of her bed. “I like to read, watch television and catch up on my cell phone messages until 10:30 in the morning before I go to the shop.”

Rina was initially told that the business would not be successful as there was a limited variety of food.

“We then realised that people have turned back to home made food. So we started preparing home made meals such as bobotie, moussaka and lasagne. We also decided to bake bread and make platters.”

Over the years their staff has increased to 12 employees who cook and bake from dusk till dawn. One for instance, rolls out dough for meat rolls only, while another one bakes pot bread and vetkoek all day long. Then there are employees whose full-time jobs are to bake cakes and to make vegetable dishes.

Which are their most popular dishes?

“Chicken lasagne and liver cakes.”

“And you know”, Rina explains “the liver of an ox has to be approved for human consumption, which often is not the case.  Sometimes it is unavailable for weeks. And everyone just wants liver cakes. They drive us up the wall sometimes”, she muses.

What is the secret to their success – even during the lockdown?

“I believe in never overcharging the public. The principles of our business plan are to be affordable, but to produce quality. Sell cheap and sell a lot! A small profit on a product eventually amounts to a large profit.”

It is no wonder that customers come from as far as Rustenburg, Johannesburg and Krugersdorp to shop there. 

The best part of their business however, is the interaction with the Hartbeespoort people, mother and daughters agree.

“People tell you when they are happy and they tell you when they are sad. The people here are special.”

At the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic their shop was closed, but it was reopened after a month.

“You won’t believe it but during our first month in business during lockdown, we only sold cakes! Not food. Cakes. People wanted nothing but cakes.”

They bake between 40 and 70 cakes per day of which chocolate mousse is the most popular.

So the next time you see Harties residents fighting the battle of the Covid-bulge, blame Mr Salad!

. Mr Salad will soon be expanding and moving to the corner of Tielmanstreet and Maraistreet.