Poultry is not the only South African industry reaping the benefits of a master plan. There are success stories from the sugar and textile industries, too.
The sugar industry has just announced a partnership with the Shoprite group which will see local sugar prioritised in nearly 1 200 stores across South Africa.
The sugar master plan, signed in November 2020, commits retailers to procuring at least 80% South African sugar in the first year, rising to 95% in the third year of the master plan. In addition, a “Home sweet home” campaign by SA Canegrowers encourages consumers to buy South African sugar.
The sugar industry has complained about weak trade protection, and said sugar imports had cost the industry more than R2.2 billion in 2019. This threatened 21 000 small-scale growers, 65 000 direct jobs, 270 000 indirect jobs and the one million people the industry supported, it said.
This is the first time retailers have been included in a master plan. FairPlay has urged government, the SA poultry industry and retailers to negotiate a similar agreement to add to the poultry master plan, signed in November 2019.
