Koukamma Fruit Packers (KFP) is a three-way partnership between the Misgund Oos Farm Workers’ Trust (MOFWT), one of the oldest land transformation projects; SA grower and marketer the Dutoit Group, and Dutch importer Hagé.
The Dutoit Group and MOFWT each own 35 per cent of KFP and Hagé 30 per cent.
Dutoit Group’s investment in KFP, through its subsidiary Southcape Produce, came after the Ceres-based company bought nine fruit farms in the Langkloof three years ago. The MOFWT shareholding in KFP has been facilitated by a grant of R2.1 million (£150,000) by the Eastern Cape agriculture department, while Hagé has a 30 per cent shareholding facilitated by the Dutch government.
“Our investment in Koukamma underlines the confidence of our group in the products and the people of the Langkloof,” said Pieter du Toit, joint md of Dutoit and chairman of KFP. “At the same time it also illustrates our confidence in the future of the South African fresh produce industry.”
The new facility has three cooling tunnels and six CA stores and can accommodate 720 pallets a week. An additional fillip for the area is that another 160 jobs will be created at the plant.
This has now resulted in the Trust acquiring the 35% shareholding in Koukamma Fruit Packers. “This new venture brings new exciting possibilities for growth to the Trust which will add to the prosperity of our members,” said Johnny Ketteldas, chairman of the Trust and vice-chairman of the board of directors of Koukamma Fruit Packers.
He said the inclusion of the Trust as major shareholder in Koukamma Fruit Packers is recognition of its achievements over the past 10 years.
“Through our partnership with Dutoit and the government we have the better of two worlds. We have the best mentorship and technology in fruit growing, packing and marketing which virtually guarantees our success, while we enjoy support in the form of funding and training from government,” said Ketteldas.
Dirk Kievit, spokeman for the Dutch government’s Programme for Cooperation in Developing Markets, the goal of PSOM is to support sustainable economic development in developing countries. “Through investing in developing countries the Dutch government helps to increase employment and income in those countries,” he said.
Paying tribute to the pioneering work of Hendrik Kritzinger in founding the Misgund Oos Farm Workers’ Trust, and Erik van Vlaanderen, a South African businessman who initiated the Dutch involvement in the project, Gys du Toit, joint managing director of Dutoit Group, said the project has proved the value of developing true ownership through partnerships. “We believe in true empowerment of our people in order to bring prosperity to them and Mr Kritzinger’s pioneering work 10 years ago has enabled us to now move to the new joint venture.”
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