Container loading at The Bean People factory in Kommetjie in the Cape is a joyous affair. Here boxes are loaded to the beat of employees clapping their hands and stomping their feet.
Manufacturers of bath beans and bath sprudels, the company recently exported its 100th container to Germany – with even more ululation than is usually the case.
“Every time we load a container the staff come together singing songs of praise and giving thanks for the opportunity to send our products overseas,” explained Chris Sutcliffe, founder and managing director of The Bean People. “It started with the very first container we ever loaded because there was so much excitement that our products were going overseas. It has since become a ritual showing not only our joy that we are able to export, but also our gratefulness for the work.”
With everyone joining in the production line to load the 756 boxes – or 158 760 bath sprudels – into the container, it is best described as a celebration of song and dance.
Once loaded the container is decorated with some colourful Bean People stickers before it leaves the premises.
CAPTION
Nontuthuzelo (Tootz) Mhambi loads a container Bean People style while her colleagues sing and dance as part of a ritual to give thanks for the export work the company gets and to ensure the container has a safe journey.
