If you’re a Mossel Bay local you’ve probably met Frik Hayward from our TopUp service station in Marsh street. A former farmer from the Loxton area in the Bo-Karoo, he relocated with his family to Mossel Bay and has been in the local fuel servicing industry for more than 16 years.
Many of you would remember that up until two years ago, the service station in Marsh street was an Engen with a Volkswagen dealership right next door. In November 1999, Frik bought shares in this business and also took over the day-to-day running and management of the service station, and in 2015 it was changed to a TopUp. 
If you ask him why he decided to form a partnership with TopUp he just says that it was the best, logical choice.
“By that stage, I’ve known Sean (Ekström) for years. He is such a personable guy and I knew that I could trust him. On the other hand, when you’re dealing with large corporations you are just a number and the decision-making process can also become quite lengthy. I can’t tell you how many hours I spent on the phone with call centres!”
Frik has now been with TopUp for 2 years and has not regretted his decision for one single day. The fact that it’s a local business means he can pick up the phone and immediately speak to someone that can address his specific needs. Southcape Petroleum also offers the best infrastructure, has a local depot, and their own fleet of trucks. Frik accredits their successful partnership to the high level of personal service as well as Southcape Petroleum’s reliable fuel supply to their service stations.
You can stop at the Marsh street TopUp any time, day or night, and there will be a friendly petrol attendant, ready to assist you. These attendants are the lifeblood of the business and Frik is proud to say that their staff turnover is extremely low.
TopUp Mossel Bay employs 16 local individuals and some of them have been with Frik for many years – Ann Pedro has been working with him for more than 16 years and Alton Blau, who has also been with him since the very beginning, started as a petrol attendant and is a supervisor today.
Birthdays, holidays, rain or shine, the team works around the clock to ensure that visitors to the Mossel Bay branch always receive friendly, professional service. They see early morning school runs, tired long-distance drivers; nervous first-time drivers and excited holiday makers, and can write a book about all the funny and strange things they have seen.
So the next time you visit TopUp Mossel Bay, ask your attendant how their day has been, they might surprise you with an interesting story…
TopUp Mossel Bay is a proud locally owned and managed business whose passion is to supply impeccable service to the Mossel Bay community.
Working at a 24-hour service station means that you see quite a few funny things. Frik tells us about one of the most memorable:
It was about 10 years ago. I was working in the office and keeping an eye on the security monitor. A petrol attendant was opening the bonnet of a car to check the oil and water and all of a sudden he just dropped it and ran away! The next thing I saw was an elderly lady re-opening the bonnet, grabbing what turned out to be a puff adder by its tail, dragging it out from the engine, and then she started smashing it with the dipstick that’s used for measuring the underground fuel tanks! I ran out to check if she was okay. Dead snake in hand she calmly informed me that she has killed many a puff adder in her lifetime and that there is no cause to worry.
We filled up her car and she was merrily on her way. Needless to say, the petrol attendant never looked at old ladies the same way again!
In 2010 the first TopUp service stations were established under the stewardship of the well-known Mossel Bay Ekström family’s third generation, primarily focused in the Eastern and Western Cape. The first of these included Citrusdal, Riebeeck Kasteel, Robertson, Somerset East and Despatch.
The popular “kids’ park” that seems to be a natural extension of the restaurant, is another extra bonus. Parents can relax and keep a watchful eye from the deck while the young have their wild and wonderful way at the tidal pool, swings, rock pools and green lawns.
“If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world.” -J.R.R. Tolkien
Fully licenced and catering for the whole boksomdaais – from early bird coffee drinking, newspaper reading locals to trendy international tourists and young night owls – Delfino’s favours an inclusive cosmopolitan style flavoured with a sprinkle of South African spice.
The comprehensive A la Carte menu boasts an interesting and appetizing assortment of local and Mediterranian cuisine ranging from light meals, pizzas, pastas, burgers and salads to seafood, steak and lamb shank. A kiddies menu, as well as platters, baskets and toasted sandwiches made to order provide amply for the young and not so hungry. On weekends, a special breakfast buffet is served from 8 – 12 am.
“You don’t need a silver fork to eat good food.” -Paul Prudhomme
“We all eat, and it would be a sad waste of opportunity to eat badly.” -Anna Thomas
The wine list includes some top notch South African wines and bubbly, while guests also have a wide choice of interesting cocktails, cold beverages and craft beer and Gin & Tonic on Tap.
PASSION FOR FOOD – PASSION FOR LIFE
Says general manager team Johan and Wanda Coetzee: “We are passionate about great, fresh and innovative food and we love what we do. All meals are made to order and instead of only the customary chips, we also give customers a healthy choice between two salads or Mediterranean roasted veggies.
“Interacting with our clients, listening to them and catering to their versatile needs with a choice selection of interesting and exciting dishes is what it’s all about.
“We want to give our customers a great experience and don’t mind spending extra money to invest in top quality equipment, products and fresh ingredients for that purpose. We cater for the whole family and want everybody to feel welcome and to enjoy themselves with great food in superb surroundings. ”
Delfino’s can seat up to 450 guests. The inside of the restaurant is less spacious, but the canvass canopied Beach Lounge which is also used for the popular weekend Breakfast Buffets and private groups, provides ample shelter from the elements on less perfect days. In high season, the open deck is usually jam-packed with bathers, visitors and locals soaking up the sun and enjoying the exquisite scenery.
Thanks to its close proximity to the beach and tidal pool, sun seekers and bathers can casually pop in anytime for a scrumptuous meal and refreshing drinks when they need a break from the hot sun.
Mossel Bay’s mild Mediterranean climate and beautiful sunsets make this a most popular venue for sunset drinks and dinner throughout the year. It is also a perfect viewing spot to watch the antics of the ever-present surfers and dolphins, and whales that frequent the bay in whale season between November and April.
“One cannot think well, love well, sleep well, if one has not dined well.” -Virginia Woolf
Point Road
The Point
Mossel Bay
6500
Tel : 044 690 5247
email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
GPS: 34° 10′ 58.16″ S 22° 09′ 24.44″ E
”There is no sincerer love than the love of food” – George Bernard Shaw
“Cooking is like love. It should be entered into with abandon or not at all.” -Harriet van Horne
The old German saying “Guter wein braucht kein Aushängeschild” comes to mind after blatantly over-indulging on crispy veggies, salads and a variety of home cooked meat dishes from a “lip-lekker” 3-course buffet meal at the Beach House Restaurant in Mossel Bay. That is – if you know where to find the rare gems!
