Our trusted community pharmacy turns 60
In 1959 the population of Kloof was about 1 500, and the M13 built in the 1940s was the “national road”. Gerard Viger opened National Road Pharmacy in the existing Maytime Centre as one of only three shops there.
Fast forward 60 years and that “national road” is now the M13, while the population of Kloof is over 30 000 and the pharmacy has changed, renovated and evolved many times over the years to become a pioneer in the health and wellness space.
The pharmacy has had three owners over the years. Gerard Viger handed over the reins to Jane Zietsman in 1996, and Lynda Bryant-Mutsaerts bought the pharmacy from her in 2005. Over the last 14 years, there have been a number of renovations culminating in a major rebrand in October 2016 – when Thrive was born.
Thrive was a long-term vision of Lynda’s, she was looking to create a space that could meet all the healthcare needs of her community – a space that combined a more holistic view on health and wellness while providing a professional approach to more integrated healthcare of the individual. Thrive has met these needs by keeping the community better than well, with a beautiful space incorporating a pharmacy, a health shop, a juice bar and a clinic. Thrive has aimed to support local, natural and organic produce as much as possible – creating a niche and a trusted space in which to meet the healthcare needs of the Upper Highway community.
The staff at Thrive have been key to ensuring its success. Their kindness, friendliness and professionalism attributes to the love they have of their customers and community. The dispensary staff have all been trained up from basic front shop assistants to qualified post basic pharmacist assistants, and several staff members have been part of the Thrive family for many years. The clinic, which opened in 1986 by Sr Jenny McInnes and Gerard Viger, has grown to a full-time primary healthcare provider – offering basic primary healthcare services to the community.
Driver Sipho Eric Mlaba has been part of the pharmacy for over 48 years, and has witnessed many changes in the area. When he started working with “Mr V”, he rode a bicycle and delivered to the big plots around Maytime. As the area grew and developed, he learnt how to drive a motorbike in Mr V’s garden. Under Jane’s ownership, he got his driver’s license and drove a yellow Citi Golf around Kloof. Today he proudly drives the Thrive Tazz around the Upper Highway, and often takes extra long to do a delivery as he is having a cup of tea with the patients who are now long-standing friends.
“We would never be able to celebrate this wonderful milestone of 60 years serving the community, without our key ingredient: our fabulous customers,” says owner, Lynda Bryant-Mutsaerts. “The community has been incredibly supportive of each and every new introduction and change that we have made over the years, we are grateful and humbled by their ongoing support. Our customers are part of our family and we feel privileged to play a small part in keeping them better than well.”
PLEASE JOIN US as we celebrate this milestone! There will be amazing specials throughout the month of July and Gerard, Jane and Lynda are looking forward to seeing everyone at the cocktail party on July 26, 5-7pm. RSVP info@wethrive.co.za or 031 764 0311