This letter provides a reference and testimonial for Daniel Van Niekerk from Liam Ryan, Managing Director of Oceanwise Pty Ltd. Ryan worked closely with Van Niekerk for several years when Van Niekerk was the Regional Seafood Specialist for Food Lovers Market, helping to introduce sustainable farmed fish. Ryan found Van Niekerk to be very knowledgeable about seafood and passionate about sustainability. Van Niekerk helped train staff and prepare stores for new launches. Although disappointed when Van Niekerk left for Namibia, Ryan highly recommends him for positions in seafood retail, food service, or production.

1. • OCEANWISE (Pty) Ltd • COMPANY REGISTRATION NO: 2002/032138/07 • VAT REGISTRATION NO: 4480211913 •
• iKhala Road • Zone 1A • East London IDZ • Sunnyridge • East London • PO Box 5041 • Greenfields • East London • 5208 •
• Office: +27 (0)43 7028 209 • Fax: +27 (0)86 656 9657 •
• E-mail: liam@oceanwise.co.za • Web: www.oceanwise.co.za •
To whom it may Concern: Date: 26th May 2016
Testimonial & Reference for Mr. Daniel Van Niekerk
RSA ID Number: 720512 5097 087 Tel: 081 576 0171 Email: aquaponicsspecialist@gmail.com
Dear Sir/Madam,
I have known ‘Mr. Daniel van Niekerk’ for several years, mostly in his professional capacity as the ‘Regional
Seafood Specialist’ for the premium ‘Food Lovers Market’ Group (also known as ‘Fruit & Veg City’ group).
Following a 2011 visit to our Oceanwise Kabeljou production facility in East London by the Directors of Fruit & Veg
City, I was referred to Mr. Van Niekerk as their ‘Fish Specialist’, who at that time was developing the ‘Food Lovers
Market’ Fresh Seafood Counter as the benchmark for premium retailer seafood counters, and establishing Food
Lovers Market as serious contenders to challenge the likes of Woolworths and Pick ‘n Pay.
Over the following two to three years, I worked closely with Mr. Van Niekerk to introduce ‘Green listed’
sustainable farmed Kabeljou or Kob to the South African market.
I found Mr. Van Niekerk to be very knowledgeable and passionate about ‘Sustainable Seafood’ and to be an
experienced ‘Fish Specialist’ well versed in all aspects of seafood procurement, presentation and sales.
Mr. Van Niekerk also visited Oceanwise’s Kabeljou Production facility in the Eastern Cape and assisted in training
our Fish Processing and Logistics staff so as to prepare, pack and transport our fish optimally for freshness and
quality.
At that time the Food Lovers Market group were busy expanding their outlets and I worked closely with Mr. Van
Niekerk in preparing stock and marketing material for exciting new FLM store launches in Silverlakes, Pretoria,
and Bruma in Johannesburg, as well as their FLM flagship new store at Nicolway, in Brynston (Jhb).
During my dealings with Mr. Van Niekerk, I always found him to be very professional in representing his
Company’s ideals and principles, always insisting on the highest levels of business and product integrity, while still
having a solution-seeking outlook to any challenges or problems that emerge from time to time. He is gifted with
excellent communications and peoples’ skills, and mixes well across all social and cultural barriers. These skills
were recognized by his then employers ‘FLM’ as he was often appointed as the Marketing Promotions person at
their flagship stores (Woodlands & Nicolway), where armed with a microphone and jovial character Daniel would
interview shoppers and highlight specials across a whole range of products, not just fish, and in doing so became
somewhat of a celebrity for a while, regularly appearing on their Food Lovers Market TV adverts.
In conclusion, I was very disappointed to hear that Mr. Daniel Van Niekerk was leaving the Food Lovers Market
group and South Africa to move to Namibia for family reasons, as he was a dynamic and constructive interface
between his regional stores and us as a Supplier, and replacement personnel never quite matched his
performance, as Mr. Van Niekerk actively introduced & sold his seafood fish products, proactively engaging
passionately with customers, compared to most seafood counter-staff who passively wait for customers &
therefore do not achieve but a fraction of the sales regularly attributed to Mr. Van Niekerk.
I also know Mr. Van Niekerk to be a family man with young children and to be a man of strong Christian values,
and I therefore have no hesitation in recommending Mr. Daniel Van Niekerk, of RSA Identity Number 720512 5097
087 and currently resident in Rehoboth, Namibia for any position he should seek in the broad Seafood retail, Food
Service or even fish production sectors, as I know if supported in a constructive environment, Mr. Van Niekerk can
be a production and marketing asset to any company in these sectors.

2. I wish him well with his endeavours and trust that he will be successful in which ever path he chooses.
Should you require any further information, feel free to contact me.
Liam RyanLiam RyanLiam RyanLiam Ryan
Kind regards
Liam Ryan • Managing Director •
liam@oceanwise.co.za
cell: 071 323 1764
Tel: 043 702 8209