
Peter Berry with Chrystal Erasmus.
Peter Berry: Valuable lessons for many
Published: 10th Dec 2020
Cape Town, W. Cape, SA - I’m so sorry to read about Peter’s passing. I knew that he was not well from our last conversation in September and was so hoping that I would be able to see him as soon as he was up for a visit. The photo attached was taken of us in 2017 when we met for lunch and as always we had such a wonderful time.
Peter made such a huge impact on me and my colleagues and he helped us to set Ackermans on a path of tremendous footwear successes. Through Peter’s knowledge, we were able to show respect to our cash strapped consumer by giving them the best possible quality footwear that their money could buy. Peter set the bar high for our suppliers and he showed them how to improve the quality of their footwear, which no doubt changed the way they made shoes forever. Valuable lessons never to be forgotten by us all.
Peter was always patient and kind, his faith in God was evident in everything that he did. I also had the honour of meeting his darling wife Margaret, whom he sadly lost and mourned bravely. Father Berry was what I called him, because he was a steadfast believer, but mostly because he was not only a dear colleague and mentor, but an incredible friend and father figure to me. I am selfishly so sad that we’ll never get to chat or have lunch anymore, but I know that Father Berry is where he belongs now, in heaven. Rest in peace dearest Father Berry, you are missed.
Footwear Industry Articles
- Shlobo Designs: Foreign consumers appreciate handwork and the story behind the brandDurban, KZN, SA – I’m a native of Umlazi’s K section, but I’ve called Seaview home since 1994.My life has been a tapestry of experiences, woven with threads of resilience, creativity, and unwavering determination. My journey took an unexpected turn when I was retrenched while working for the bank with a wealth expe ...morePalm Footwear: ‘One family’Palm Footwear was founded in July 1966 by Kasie Pattundeen, with 18 staff, making slippers.60 years later, with over 800 staff, it is among the biggest employers in the SA footwear industry and among the biggest manufacturers by volume.It remains a family business, headed by Rajeev and Kiran Pattundeen, with their children, Srishti and Rt ...moreSAFLEC AGM 2026: A year marked by resilienceOn behalf of the Board of Directors, it is my pleasure to welcome all our members and stakeholders to the 24th Annual General Meeting of the South African Leather & Footwear Export Council (SAFLEC).The Annual General Meeting provides us with an opportunity not only to reflect on the performance of the Council over the past financial y ...more
Leather Industry Articles
- SADC Leather Forum unites 16 member states to strengthen the regional leather industryThe Southern African Development Community’s Regional Leather Forum met in Durban, South Africa, in August. Nerisha Jairaj and Jacob Nyathi explain different aspects. ...moreSam Setter's 'Pills': You have to be very clever to understand this document, but hopefully it will do some goodIn June, UNIDO launched an impressive document called “Guideline”. It is a very detailed, environment oriented, technical and scientific document where the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Corporate Carbon Footprint (CCP) play a prominent role. The document, peer reviewed, has been developed for UNIDO with the main contributor ...moreWorld first - compost: Possible, desirable, not necessarily simpleThe world of compostable leather is not as historically accurate as the industry would like it to be. The definition of leather is: “hide or skin with its original fibrous structure more or less intact, tanned to be imputrescible (rot-proof). Hair or wool may or may not have been removed, and the material can include split layers or ...more
PPE Industry Articles
- Performance testing: Building credibility in the modern apparel and footwear marketThe lines between protective wear, sportswear, outdoor apparel, wellness clothing and everyday fashion continue to blur. Consumers increasingly expect garments and footwear to deliver more than style alone. Whether purchasing workwear, running apparel, outdoor footwear, school shoes or everyday casual products, buyers now look for comfort ...moreObituary: Colin Battle, agent (17/04/1957-27/07/2026): Our sales trips were a whole life experienceDearest Lee, Greg & Sammy,I send my sincerest condolences & wishes of long and healthy lives to all of you, after the passing of your beloved Colin. I’ve no doubt that once the pain of losing an adored husband and father starts to subside, you will be left the glorious memories of your lives together with a most wonderful an ...moreProtecting the workforce: The critical role of PPEPersonal protective equipment (PPE) is utilised in a work-environment as part of a larger prevention plan, because on its own protection is limited and may even provide a false sense of protection.An occupational disease prevention plan must be an actionable approach that identifies workplace health hazards, evaluates exposure, and i ...more
© S&V Publications







