Shopfrite Group, Africa’s largest food retailer, has named South African topfruit company Tru-Cape Fruit Marketing as its Supplier of the Year at its annual prize-giving ceremony in Stellenbosch.
The award is Tru-Cape’s second such accolade this year, having already been recognised for its service excellence by UK-based retailer Tesco.
Tru-Cape Fruit Marketing managing director Roelf Pienaar said the award, which he collected together with Tru-Cape chairman Pieter Graaff, was that much more important to the group as The Shoprite Group remained its largest customer.
“We value our long-standing relationship with Freshmark, the Shoprite Group’s fruit and vegetable procurement arm, not only because of the high number of cartons of apples and pears they purchase from us but also for the constructive role they play driving excellence in our industry,” he commented.
The national round of the Shoprite Group’s Supplier Awards is held each year to recognise suppliers for their support and collaborative approach towards the company’s business during the year and for helping the retailer to provide quality products and services at the lowest prices to its customers.
Suppliers nominated for the prestigious prize are evaluated on criteria such as the extent to which they contribute towards the supermarket group’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 or head office level.
