CATRA'S VISION FOR THE FUTURE

The objectives of CATRA are aimed at protecting and promoting the interests of its members and their employees to provide services and benefits to the members and to foster harmonious relationships between members through the process of conciliation and dialogue.

There are over 55,000 independent supermarkets, convenience stores, restaurants and takeaways in the Republic. They are all independent entrepreneurs who provide a very important service to the people, as well as providing employment to thousands of people.

The members have historically run their establishments with integrity, bringing to the people within a convenient distance of the local population their daily requirements in the form of groceries, eatables and drinkables. The advent of big business encroaching on their territory has pushed the small business operator into the background and one is apt to forget the role small business has played in the past and still does in the country's economy, and in providing employment to thousands of people.

The Food Services Industry is a labour intensive one which sells service and hospitality and which relies heavily on employees as the most important means of achieving success. The recent upsurge in tourism necessitates the need to re-evaluate the training that is provided to workers in our industry to ensure that standards of health and hygiene are elevated to international standards. The Hospitality and Tourism sector extends further than just the large hotels and chain restaurants with the small business sector making up the bulk of the industry.

Catra's background is firmly rooted in the family operated establishment and ranges from the small corner cafe'/grocer to the formal upmarket restaurant to the local take – away outlet and represents 10,000 small business operators in the Food Service sector.

Catra, after 80 years of solid service to its members, is finally coming into its own and is poised to tackle the challenges of the21^st century. Catra's role in South Africa's everchanging political, social and economical scenario is becoming a crucial one. We are poised to become a major player in our country's future and will in the year ahead rise up to the challenge and take a leading role in ensuring that our members and their employees are fully represented and that their interests are protected, expanded upon and improved. To this end, Catra has already embarked on an aggressive campaign of representation to all levels of government and will make sure that our organisation maintains a high profile – with our members and the public.