Mon Dec 10 08:14:00 UTC 2018
Africa’s biggest retailer annually acknowledges top suppliers at its Supplier of the Year Awards. These awards recognise the valuable contribution suppliers make to the success of the Shoprite Group. Some 20 000 companies in 47 countries do business with the Group, which in the last year sold 7.6 billion items to 35 million customers in its 2800 stores in throughout Africa.
The focus remains on building long-term, collaborative relationships with small and large suppliers, many of whom have been supplying to the Group for years. This annual award ceremony, which the Group this year hosted for the 19th time, is one of the ways in which these relationships are maintained.
Finalists in ten product categories were evaluated on criteria such as the extent to which they had contributed towards the retailer’s growth and improved earnings, their stockholding and service levels, the efficiency of their administration processes, and the manner in which they provide support at store level i.e. the frequency of merchandiser visits to the stores.
The 2018 winners in each category are:
Groceries: Bliss Brands
Preggie Naidoo, general sale manager: “Without Shoprite Bliss Brands would not be as big as it is today,” - he said of his company’s decade-long association with the retailer that he supplies with cleaning products under the MAQ brand as well as Securex bath soap.
Health and Beauty: Amka Products
Amka supplies SofnFree hair care products and Clere body lotions to the Group. Andries Brewis: “It’s essential for us to be on Shoprite’s shelves so we can showcase our brands through their outlets.”
Convenience Foods: Anderson’s Silwood Bakery
Anderson’s Silwood Bakery developed the winning recipe for the Checkers’ award-winning Ready to Braai garlic breads. This saw them rise to the top in the category. Paul Anderson, managing director: “The triple growth in sales with Shoprite-Checkers has allowed for a certain degree of automation in our business, which has definitely helped us.”
Perishables: Quantum-Nulaid Eggs
Jan-Harm Labuschagne: “Our strategy is to remain the number one egg supplier to Shoprite and remain aligned with its growth expectations.”
Liquor & Wine: Heineken SA
Celestie du Toit, a key accounts manager: “For me it’s all about the shopper and our relationship with Shoprite is based on long-term trust and mutuality.”
Fruit and Vegetables: Emseni Farm
Agnes Stegen, packhouse manager: “Shoprite is a very big part of our business. In the future, there are still many opportunities for growth with them.”
Meat Market: Sparta Beef
Estelle van Reenen, CEO: “Two years ago I went to our factory and said I think we must expand our business with the Shoprite Group. It’s a very innovative business. They are loyal and have the same values as we do.”
General Merchandise: Sappi Southern Africa Ltd
Wendy Ford: “It’s great to be affiliated with a reputable company like Shoprite. We’ve seen the growth as a result. Being the leading retail copy paper brand in Shoprite is great for us.”
SMME Suppliers: El Roi Farms
El Roi Farms started supplying free range chickens to the group in August 2017. Since then the business has grown by 60%. Owner, Chad Mills: “It fills us with pride that we are able to see our product in Shoprite.”
Private Label: Icon 3 Sixty
Icon 3 Sixty provides toiletries under the Renew label. Rob van Wieringen, National Sales Director: “I see Shoprite as a business that has a vision of the future that we really, clearly want to be part of.”