Food for thought: Happy employees make for good business

Scharrer is also a director of Scharrer Advertising, alongside his mother, Jos, who resigned as executive creative director of BBDO South Africa in 1984 in order to start her own business.

The two work together out of their Parkmore residence to ensure that Longtom Foods serves the very best foot-long hot dogs, cheese grillers and more delights of the sausage kind.

“The menu was originally inspired by New York-style hot dogs, but Glenn quickly realised that in South Africa – boerie rolls are the king,” revealed Jos.

And she was right. The fire engine red Longtom Food trailer has a fantastic spot on the corner of Marie and Eleventh streets in Parkmore where the team sets up every Monday to Friday from around 9am to 5pm.

It’s here that two cooks on their team, Peter Mkandawie and trainee John Paul Lux, pump out delicious foot-long hot dogs and boerie rolls topped with fried onions and a number of sauces for waiting customers.

“At first, we sold at events – cycling events, marathons, trails, concerts and festivals. Then Longtom Foods started receiving inquiries for corporate and private parties. These parties required a wider menu range and so shwarmas, prego rolls, hamburgers, wraps, Dippy Chips and other fast and easy street food were added to the menu,” added Glenn.

Glenn said that these days, the majority of their bookings are actually for corporate and private parties. “Our menu has been boosted by fresh salads, platters, pulled pork rolls, roast beef and rocket rolls, and other scrumptious delights.”

“Right now we can serve 1 000 food items from one set-up – which means that with four set-ups we can cater for 4 000 food items on any one day at any one event,” revealed Jos.

And not one roll goes to waste – whatever the team has left over at the end of the day is given to their employees for them to take home because the owners understand that happy employees mean a thriving business.

The two wholeheartedly agree on one thing, “The highlights of running a business are the satisfied customers. It is most satisfying to have a happy client phone or e-mail us and say thanks, that was awesome. You guys made my party.’”

Details: www.longtomfoods.co.za