She may possess an incredible work ethic and be known for running a tight ship at the two SPAR stores she owns with husband Flippie, but she also exudes the warmth and friendliness people of the area are known for.

While she was surprised to receive the 2025 SPAR Eastern Cape Retail Award at the group’s provincial distribution centre in Gqeberha, many of those in attendance were not.

The purpose of the prestigious award is to recognise a retailer in the group who embodies the values of passion, family and entrepreneurship. Ehlers is all those things and more.

“It is an honour. SPAR has always been my passion and this [award] is a gift to my passion,” she says.

“In the end it’s what you put in and I’ve put a lot of hours into our businesses (SPAR Dagbreek in Kirkwood and SPAR Addo). The staff are very proud of me.”

The seeds for the couple’s journey with the company were planted at a vacant property they rented to open the first self-service fruit and veg operation in Kirkwood.

They developed the site, adding a new building from which to sell groceries. Soon afterwards SPAR came to town and settled in a mere two doors down.

Ironically, the brand was considered their rival at the time and they responded in kind by buying the neighbouring building to become a full-blown supermarket.

While the Ehlers survived, their neighbours did not – or so they thought.

The group reached out and they agreed to operate under its banner in 2001. It was the “best move we ever made”.

Dagbreek – a store that has won the province’s SPAR of the Year title on several occasions – came into being six years later when they purchased a building in town.

They added Addo to their portfolio in 2023.

The latter is already doing as much as 75 per cent of Dagbreek’s total turnover as it finds favour among farm owners and labourers, packhouse workers and a blend of local and international visitors.

“We’ve had quite a lot of tourists this summer, so we’ve had a good season. They should be here until about March or April,” Ehlers says.

Their busiest period, citrus season, follows from April to September.

Over the weekend of the SPAR Kirkwood Wildsfees she, her 35-year-old daughter Karlien Meiring and her staff work marathon shifts to replenish beverages, buns and meat so that no festivalgoer can complain of going home hungry.

She marshals the business with the same attitude and energy and it is therefore no surprise that she and her family are continually reaping the rewards.

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