Mark Sham

If you are a new follower to my account, I'd like to introduce myself, explain what I post about and WHY! Please take a few seconds to read (and like the post) if you've been enjoying my content so far. I really appreciate your support so far and I'm here to create a net positive impact on Twitter / X ❤️ ✅ My goal is to create travel content that inspires people to travel more. Specifically, I'm trying to get people to act like tourists in this beautiful country of ours. Despite our problems, I love South Africa and I want to be a force for good. ✅ I've been documenting my travels informally for a few years but I recently started @likeatouristza to showcase amazing places to visit and cool things to do. Just look through my recent timeline and you will get an idea of what I'm talking about. ✅ We have a YouTube channel where we upload high quality content. I would love for you to search for us and see the quality for yourself. I also use all my social media platforms to share pictures that I take myself. If it doesn't have our logo on then I didn't take it. ✅ Almost always, my posts aren't sponsored and the places I visit don't know I'm coming. I pay my own way which gives me the ability to give an honest plug. If money exchanges hands, I will always tell you. ✅ I also don't review places. If I don't have a great experience, I don't post about them. This is why my content sometimes comes across as "positive" when actually I just don't mention the negative experiences to begin with. ✅ Some travel experiences I post about are for everyone and some are high end. I rarely post prices and I ask you to do your own research. ✅ Every now and then, I post about other topics that interest me that aren't travel related. I am a professional speaker so I have a broad range of interests. Sometimes I speak about politics too, but I try limit this topic because it can be divisive. ✅ Lastly, I am a fun loving guy and I love engaging with my community but I also clap back if someone gives me a hard time. I'm ok with debating things elegantly and I am comfortable to agree to disagree. PS. Reply to this post if you have any questions or comments, and I will always try to reply ASAP. Love hearing from you and chatting with you!

@cowboy_lockdown @WOOLWORTHS_SA Just reminding small business owners what they’re dealing with when they deal with corporate giants. Seems to be hitting a nerve?

@MarkSham @WOOLWORTHS_SA This guy has an axe to grind with WW... posting this all over SM. One man crusade

The @WOOLWORTHS_SA and Beyers Chocolates breakdown is another reminder that corporate companies will "protect their business and their growth" at all costs. Any smaller business that forgets is doomed. You can have a 34-year supplier history with a corporate but the moment you stop playing by their rules, they will cut you down to size, even if that means you liquidating your business! From what has been reported, Beyers had been supplying Woolworths since around 1990 and at one point Woolworths made up roughly half their business. That kind of relationship could fool you into feeling secure when you’re in it. It "feels" like there’s history and trust which is already the first warning sign in this story. Apparently Beyers acquired a second factory which was already supplying Checkers and Pick 'n Pay. According to Beyers, this was a way to increase volumes, support mechanisation, diversify the business, and reduce their dependence on Woolworths, especially because Woolworths had already started bringing in other chocolate brands years earlier. Woolworths apparently found out about the second factory and took issue with it. The dispute centred on exclusivity. According to Kees Beyers, Woolworths wanted the second factory closed but Beyers refused. From a business owner’s point of view, I understand why. Beyers had reportedly invested around R200 million and had roughly 75 employees at that second site. You don’t just switch that off because a major client is uncomfortable with you diversifying. Then came the hammer as Woolworths reduced its orders. First by around R100 million and then by another R100 million a few months later. When one customer carries that much weight in your business, they don’t have to “kill” you in some dramatic movie villain way. They just have to reduce orders and suddenly cash flow gets squeezed, your bank gets nervous, your options disappear, and the thing you spent decades building can start falling apart in real time. The exclusivity issue itself is still disputed. Beyers says the exclusivity agreement expired in 2019. Woolworths apparently says it rolled over automatically. Woolworths has also said it cannot comment on the details of the relationship because of confidentiality 🤣 I want to personally remind you. Corporate companies are not people. They don’t operate on loyalty, memory, history, or sentiment in the way small business owners often do. They operate through systems, contracts, leverage, risk management and self preservation. If you build your business around one massive corporate client, and that client decides you’ve stepped outside the lines, they will likely not sit down and ask how this affects your people, your factory, your investment, or your future. If you take ANYTHING from this post, it's an understanding of WHAT (not who) you’re dealing with. Never forget this and play the game accordingly 🤓

@Alicemakochieng @WOOLWORTHS_SA It’s helpful to read before commenting. Then you don’t look so silly.

@MarkSham @WOOLWORTHS_SA You can't blame @WOOLWORTHS_SA for a company that went behind their back in an exclusive supplier contract and acquired another chocolate factory to supply to Woolies competitors. That's cheating. I'd do exactly 💯 what Woolworths has done. Beyers brought this upon themselves.

@jacpem @WOOLWORTHS_SA They can't. They're currently in liquidation.

@MarkSham @WOOLWORTHS_SA It’s maybe a good time for Beyers to pull the supply to WW completely and sell the same product for less to the other retailers.

It's a real lesson. Just also easier said than done. Beyers wouldn't have grown the same if it weren't for the WW but it came with an exclusivity clause. When that lapsed and they tried to diversify, WW dropped them and now they're liquidating. Damned if you do, damned if you don't.

@MarkSham @WOOLWORTHS_SA Don't ever be dependent on one client. Rather a few smaller clients than 1 large one.

@MarkTriesta @WOOLWORTHS_SA They're hiding behind "supplier confidentiality". It's not in their interest to speak up.

@MarkSham @WOOLWORTHS_SA Notice how Woolworths hasn’t even bothered to respond publicly? Telling people chuckles will still be available isn’t a response ! They need to own up to their version of corporate ethics. Instead they’re hoping it blows over ….. very cynical

Woolies had an exclusivity clause with Beyers until 2019. It's a double edged sword because Beyers wouldn't have got to where they are without the Woolies contract, but in order to get it, they had to agree to exclusivity. Years after that clause lapsed, they bought the second factory to diversify and then Woolies cut back on them. Damned if you, damned if you don't.

@MarkSham @WOOLWORTHS_SA I dunno if I agree with your conclusion. Woolies is not just an entity that didn't play nice and just remember it's a "thing", there are people behind this who did it. I think the warning should actually be, start to diversify from the beginning.

@pstedsSA That's a top notch pizza too! Subjectively speaking, Napz edges them out by a ball hair but I can understand how people see it differently. Cafe 28 is gold.

@MarkSham Cafe 28 in Wierda Rd East. Nothing better…

This might be the BEST PIZZA I've ever had in Johannesburg 🥳 I know that's a big statement but after visiting NAPZ in Rosebank recently, I think their Neapolitan Margherita jumps to the top of a quality competitor list🍕 I had no clue this place existed until a good friend told me about the owner, Enrico, who spent two months training in Naples under the organisation that protects traditional Neapolitan pizza. Think of it like champagne only being allowed to call itself champagne if it comes from that region. Same idea. When someone cares enough about their craft to fly to Naples and learn it properly, I have to go visit. And obviously order three pizzas to put it to the test. What I really liked about NAPZ is that they're not trying to be fancy. It’s a proper mom and pop shop run by Enrico and his wife Viviana. This isn’t some pizza designed in a corporate boardroom. It’s a small family run business where the owners care deeply about their craft and heritage. And those are exactly the kinds of places we should be supporting. Everything revolves around getting the fundamentals right. Dough fermentation, ingredients, temperature, process. All the little things that make a pizza good. If you want to know a bit more about NAPZ, I would absolutely LOVE for you to watch the video we published recently but I’m not going to share the link. Just search for “Hungry & Shameless in SA” on YouTube and you’ll find it. ‼️ Please don’t watch the video unless you intend to watch the whole thing. We’re not chasing views at all costs. We want the videos to find the right audience ‼️ Most importantly, have any of you eaten at NAPZ before? And if you know of any soulful, owner run restaurants we should review next, drop them in the comments section below.

@Mimi37223313 You literally can't compare these two worlds!

@MarkSham Would love to taste! Can't stand these franchise restaurant pizzas!

@Che_4real If you do decide to eat at Napz, my heartfelt suggestion is don't order takeaway. The quality of the experience is just so much better when you eat the pizza 2min after it comes out the oven ❤️

@MarkSham Im SO glad you shared this. Was looking the other night for pizza. Ended up ordering from a well known spot in the Parkview area. Was disappointed. Now I know where to order from. Yay

@saoirse_sikhu It certainly doesn't get more authentic. The owner, Enrico, is an absolute stickler for making sure he does Naples proud.

@MarkSham The bubbling alone tells me you are probably right, I will definitely try them out thanks! My love for this pizza is from having a lot of Italian friends who also run mom & pop restaurants.

@SACTLocal I actually went back again after filming the video and the second time around was just as good. I stand by this being my favourite Margherita in the city but it's a close race.

@MarkSham Looks delicious…!

@Solange_apdmb @SuitsSneakers I see what you did there 😂

@MarkSham @SuitsSneakers A fave!!! Slaps slaps!!! 👌

Aaahhhh, Parkhurst! A suburb where the dogs wear cashmere sweaters and the activewear on 4th Avenue costs more than my first car 🤣 In the middle of all the polish and botox is a tiny sidewalk restaurant that's serving up world-class Sandos ❤️ What is a Sando? Well in Slaps' world, it’s a fluffy, moist, Japanese-style bread roll stuffed with some of the best meat fillings on the planet. Probably why people kept telling me to visit over and over. Almost everything you eat there is made in-house. When you have a partnership between an industry veteran and a young fine-dining chef, you will see a certain level of technique applied to every item on the menu. I personally put the menu through the ringer. Between the Fillet Banh Mi, the chicken schnitzel, the deboned lamb, and the double patty cheeseburger, I consumed enough calories to power a small country. I even smashed their skinny fries (ironic), vegan truffle mayo (typical Parkhurst), and their fabulous cheesecake. If you want to see the full experience and find out how I rated each dish, I would LOVE for you to watch the new video we published recently but I’m not going to share the link. If you care about finding soulful, owner-run spots that actually respect your money, just search for “Hungry & Shameless in SA” on YouTube. Please don’t watch the video unless you intend to watch the whole thing. We aren’t interested in views at all costs. We want the videos to find the right audience who actually values these kinds of one-of-one establishments. Have you been to SLAPS before? I’d love to hear what those of you who have visited think of the food?

@rosekhoboso @Anele Hi Rose. I needed a break from Twitter. Wasn't in a good space but it's lekker to be back.

@MarkSham @Anele Where have you been Mark ? Good to see you 😍

@MrValentine91 Thank you for the support, brother! I really appreciate it.

@MarkSham Bro literally watching your your youtube vids every friday. Great content bro and now i jave atleast 4 new places to take my wife to hahaha

@DylanSeagrove Ok. Cool story.

@MarkSham That’s because they have a captive market that wouldn’t know good food if it slapped them in the face.

People keep telling me that Filotimo is the best Greek restaurant in Johannesburg 🇬🇷 They also have a 4.9 rating on Google with 1,000 reviews so the question I was trying to answer when visiting for the first time was, is this place actually legit? Located in the armpit of Bryanston, Filotimo Greek Taverna doesn't look like much from the outside. They’re squashed between a fruit and veg store owned by the porras and a corner cafe owned by the Indians 😂 The second you step inside, the Joburg chaos just evaporates. It feels less like a suburb in the North and more like a taverna in Athens We put the menu to the test starting with the meze dip platter. Being a half-Leb from the south, I have a very high bar for hummus and theirs is world-class. Then came the meat and seafood platters. Think skinny lamb chops with a proper smoky char and calamari that actually tastes like the ocean instead of a rubber band. Every component was nailed. But what makes Filotimo a proper "one-of-one" isn’t just the food. The staff are friendly, knowledgeable, and enthusiastic. The decor is magic with door frames hanging from the ceiling, books stuck to the walls, and picture frames everywhere. From the hand-painted quotes and the "plate cemetery" to the mismatched wooden furniture, it is obvious that every detail is intentional but unpolished. The courtyard is the absolute soul of the restaurant. On a clear day, with the blue walls and the checkered tablecloths, there is nowhere else in the city you would rather be sitting. Most restaurants are terrified of upsetting a single customer but Filotimo is winning by knowing exactly who they are and refusing to compromise for the sake of convenience. They have rules like no kids under 13, no Wi-Fi, no half portions, and absolutely no rearranging the menu. If you want to know how I rated them overall, I would absolutely LOVE for you to watch the new video we published recently BUT I am not going to share the link. If you care about finding soulful, original spots, just search for “Hungry & Shameless in SA” on YouTube. PLEASE don’t watch the video unless you intend to watch the whole thing. We aren’t interested in hollow views; we want the videos to find the right audience who actually values these kinds of one-of-one establishments. If you don’t like original restaurants with a bit of character, there is always a franchise around the corner waiting to break your heart. Who of you have actually been? Drop your scores below, I would love to hear what the rest of you think.

@Roger_Pedakter I pay for my meals. I don’t receive payment for making the videos. I do this to help small businesses. I didn’t know that owner before making the video. I ask the owner not to be there when I film. It would mean the world if you watched the video for more context.

@MarkSham Didn’t watch the video so if you address my question, apologies. Was your meal comped ?

@_MissNeke Let us know what you think when you go?

@MarkSham we’ll check it out Mark, thanks!

@DonMigu23 I hear what you're saying. I actually went back yesterday. The thing I enjoyed even more yesterday without cameras in my face was that fillet banh mi. On my lord, that was special.

@MarkSham Decent burger. It’s almost there but it’s just missing that knockout punch. I think it needs more seasoning