Frik Fourie started his career as a van salesman for Dairymaid Ice Cream on the East Rand and was later promoted to national sales manager . Following his dream to be a business owner , Frik acquired a supermarket in Jan Kempsdorp , before re-locating to Vredendal , where he forged a partnership with Attie Engelbrecht of Kapel Mark , a distributor of fresh fruit and vegetables .

In his position as managing director of Sigvoed ( Pty ) Ltd , the company acquired Vredendal Produktemark . With his hands-on management style and relentless energy , Vredendal Produktemark accelerated from having a fleet of 12 rigid vehicles and staff of 35 , to 24 vehicles including five refrigerated semi-trailers and staff of 164 , of whom seven were telesales operators .

Produktemark distributes 22 brand names of perishables to retail outlets , hostels , restaurants and mines north of Vredendal as far as Victoria West , Citrusdal and Oranjemund . The products distributed include ice cream , frozen

dough , poultry , dairy products , tinned foods , sugar and snacks .

In peak season , Frik was constantly on the floor in the receiving and dispatch bays , working alongside his staff and if needed would dash to a restaurant with an urgently needed supply of frozen sea food himself .

He had a keen eye for detail and was particularly thorough in whatever he did . While sitting in his office on one occasion , Frik noticed on a surveillance monitor on his desk that a semi-trailer was about to leave the yard with one wheel rim painted red . Frik had the vehicle stopped immediately and the wheel rim painted grey to match the corporate identity !

As an active business owner , Frik had a strong belief to give back to his community and encouraged others to follow in supporting the Vredendal Old Age home . Frik was a driving force behind the Huisgenoot Namakwa Festival to raise funds for local charities .

As early as 1989 , Frik was honoured with the AHI ( Afrikaanse Handels Instituut ) Businessman of the Year Award .

After meeting Frik , even only for a short period , one never forgot his vibrant personality .

Frik Fourie , 20 November 1948 – 17 February 2022 . ( Photo taken Feb 2013 )

Sadly , Frik became seriously ill and suffered before he succumbed to his illness at his home in Vredendal .

Our deepest sympathy to his son , “ Frikkie ” and family and his many devoted

staff . May Frik rest in peace , after his very active and honourable journey on earth . His large footsteps will remain on the shoreline long after the tide ebbs and flows . CLA

John Ackermann