SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2024

Supplement to the integrated annual report for the year ended 30 September 2024

Enhanced livelihoods

Our goal is to improve the livelihoods of thousands of people by providing opportunities across our value chain for inclusive economic participation.

Context

South Africa continues to face weak economic growth, poverty, inequality, high unemployment and reduced household spending power, rooted in a legacy of racial exclusion. Many households struggle to meet basic nutritional needs, while public health challenges, governmental dysfunction, infrastructure failures and environmental degradation further strain the economy. In this context, business plays a crucial role in driving economic transformation and improving livelihoods.

As one of Africa's largest listed food manufacturers, we have a meaningful positive impact on livelihoods through our direct operations, procurement practices and extended value chain. We are committed to advancing black economic empowerment through our business activities, investing a mandated percentage of our net profit after tax in socio-economic development (SED) and enterprise and supplier development (ESD). These initiatives enable us to address socio-economic risks while pursuing opportunities for economic transformation.

Approach

Our approach to addressing socio-economic risks and supporting economic transformation in South Africa aligns with the Broad-based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) Act. This legislation requires companies to boost black economic participation through ownership, management control, skills development, employment equity, enterprise and supplier development (ESD) and socio-economic development (SED).

We aim to create social impact that goes beyond compliance, integrating the B-BBEE elements into our sustainability and external relations strategies, stakeholder engagement and brand-building efforts. Our performance is measured against these elements using a government-approved B-BBEE scorecard, which determines a company's contributor level and impacts their ability to engage in business with government and certain private sector entities.

Our 2030 targets
  • 50% of our total procurement spend towards black-owned and black women-owned suppliers
  • Support 1 000 black enterprises
  • Create 4 000 jobs
  • Build an ESD fund of R400 million through partnerships
  • Prioritise local and regional sourcing of agricultural raw materials
  • 100% of our products ethically sourced
  • Support 20 community enterprises
Our key initiatives
  • Support new black and black women-owned enterprises and create sustainable livelihood opportunities.
  • Annually contribute more than 1,5% of net profit after tax towards socio-economic development activities that promote sustainable thriving communities.
  • Attract, source and develop a skilled and diverse workforce, create an inclusive and collaborative work environment where our people can thrive, grow and innovate.