Max Carter (4) extends special invite to Finance Minister
Max Carter is a spirited small entrepreneur who set up his own burger stand and hopes Tito Mboweni comes to buy one of his burgers on Saturday.
POLOKWANE – After visiting the farmers’ market at The Farmyard Trading Post over the weekend, Max Carter (4) decided to venture into business and set up his own burger stand called Max’s Burnt Out Nice Burgers.
On Saturday, 28 November, Max will officially sell his first burgers to close family and friends, however, Max extended a special invite to Finance Minister, Tito Mboweni. Mboweni’s cooking has set South African Twitter users on a cooking craze the last few months.
This is what is loading for a dinner snack. Only the final outcome will load. Nice rain here on the Dutch of Makgobaskloof! Lovely. pic.twitter.com/gs1Ypk7uNm
— Tito Mboweni (@tito_mboweni) October 11, 2020
“We are fully aware of the economic climate South Africa finds itself in, and any and all effort to boost the economy must be embraced. We are also aware that our Minister of Finance is a resident of the province and therefore felt, who best to inspire tiny entrepreneurs than the governor himself! We are faced with doom and gloom on a daily basis, so looking to the youth and moving them to want to become employers some day is inspiring to us, and we want to instil that into our kids,” says Max’s dad, Paul.
https://twitter.com/EileenIzette/status/1331297057735385089
“It might not be pilchards, but it will help with South Africa’s economic recovery,” Max’s mom, Eileen, jokingly tweeted to the minister.
Dad says Max is a very inquisitive child and they encourage him to ask questions and come up with solutions constantly. “Maxi saw his tutor during lockdown selling goods from her stand and was inspired and wanted to know if he can also have a stand at our house. When asked what he would like to sell, he indicated burgers! He came up with the name as well, and was very specific that the name had to include ‘nice’. We made very sure he knew that lots of planning goes into selling a product, and he sat down and started to design the sign for his stand, as well as assisting with making a homemade chilli sauce,” Paul explains.
Max revealed that his sauce’s secret ingredient is mint and a green tomato from his garden.Â
The young (and small) entrepreneur further draws inspiration from the entrepreneurs day which his school, Bambini Montessori, hosts annually.
“They go above and beyond in the development of our little ones and Max has been involved from start to finish in the project,” dad indicates.Â
Because this is his first attempt, the invite to buy the burgers only went to close family, friends, and the minister.
“We are aware of the regulatory laws relating to the selling of fresh food and hence wanted to make sure that he is inspired, but within the confines of the law. Mom is a lawyer after all, but he’s secret awesome chilli sauce will be available to order,” Paul says.
Orders can be placed at burntoutniceburgers@gmail.com for R35 per bottle.
Max’s grandparents are fully invested in his venture and his grandmother and grandfather have come up from Kimberley to assist him. His grandparents from Bloemfontein have also assisted him with some seed money for his ingredients.
“Maxi wants to buy a ‘broomie’ helmet with the proceeds of his project. Mom and dad try and make sure he knows that with hard work, he can invest in something he enjoys, which is riding his bicycle. Dad is an avid bicycle rider and Maxi loves riding and has been on his bicycle since a very young age, and wishes to own a full faced bike helmet he once saw in town.”
The weekend’s menu also includes Jackson’s Buton (caramel popcorn) and Paul explains the name. “Jackson is Maxi’s 18-month-old brother and loves to do everything his brother does. When we asked Max what he thought Jackie could make, he said popcorn. When we spoke to Jackie and said Jackie, say popcorn, he said ‘bu-ton’.”
On Saturday Max will be in the driveway and his friends will come to the drive-thru for pick up. “We have all Covid protocols in place for his small event and hope the minister sees the fun in the gesture and places an order. We will make sure Maxi delivers it to his window himself!
