Waterfall City, Gauteng,
20 September 2021.
Premier Eswatini is owned by Premier Group based in South Africa (premierfmcg.com) and has no other shareholders in Eswatini
Premier is a leading manufacturer of bread, maize, wheat and mageu products at its FSSC22000 accredited facilities in Eswatini. (FSSC 22000 is an international, and independent food safety management system for manufacturing and processing of food products ensuring our products consistently comply with and do not deviate from international standards).
Premier Eswatini operates a staple foods manufacturing business in Matsapha, Eswatini, producing branded bread, maize, wheat and mageu products for the local market. Premier also exports a number of products from Eswatini to other subsidiaries of the Premier Group into the surrounding countries. Premier is committed to growing its Eswatini operations and has continued to invest in manufacturing capability and capacity, training of employees and improvement in the quality and safety procedures at each of the manufacturing facilities.
The Premier Eswatini brand portfolio, including SUB, Blue Ribbon, Baker’s Pride, Ligugu, Iwisa maize & mageu and Mandla mageu meets the highest food quality standards and is audited by external Food Safety Auditors. Premier has to earn the right to operate in our communities by being mindful of our responsibilities to our consumers, society and the planet. To this end, the brands have been actively involved in many community initiatives including Keep your Kingdom Clean (SUB Bread bag collections at schools), Caring for your Community (SUB bread bag swap for a loaf of bread), Buy one, get one, donate one Iwisa maize and mageu, and Girls supporting Girls (Li-lets sanitary products school programme) over the past few years.
Premier Eswatini prides itself in making use of local suppliers and service providers as an integral part of our operations, further contributing to building and growing the Eswatini economy. Premier carefully vets all suppliers to meet the Premier Group’s stringent procurement policies.
Comment from Kobus Gertenbach, Chief Executive Officer “The health and safety of our employees and the safety of the products we produce, together with ensuring food security for the communities that we serve remains our priority. Premier has implemented extensive quality and safety standards at all our operations and will continue to invest in our brands to ensure our products and people make a difference in the everyday lives of our consumers”.
Comment from Neil von Wissell, Country Manager Eswatini “All our operations in Eswatini comply with the group health & safety standards and are regularly audited by Premier FMCG and other independent food safety auditors to ensure compliance. Our focus on quality, compliance, safety and food security will remain a priority for Premier Eswatini”.
About Premier
Gauteng-based Premier FMCG (Pty) Limited was founded over 195 years ago. Premier FMCG strategically repositioned itself in 2012 as a leading FMCG player by expanding from traditional milling and baking into confectionary, home and personal care brands. Premier has operations and distribution facilities throughout South Africa, Eswatini, Lesotho and Mozambique, and a home and personal care business in the United Kingdom, and exports into markets within the broader SADC region, Middle East, China, Ireland and other EU markets.
Today, Premier produces and markets iconic South African brands such as Snowflake, Blue Ribbon, BB Bakeries, Star, Mister Bread, Iwisa, Nyala, Super Sun, Invicta, Thrive, Manhattan, Super C, Mister Sweet, Champion toffee, Rascals, Lil-lets, Vulco & Dove cotton wool; as well as leading brands in Mozambique which include CIM, Florbela, Favorito, Polana, Top Score & Celeste; and in Eswatini which include SUB, Iwisa, Bakers Pride & Ligugu and Mandla Mageu.
In line with its vision of “Growing Together”, Premier operates 13 bakeries, 3 maize mills, 7 wheat mills, as well as a biscuit plant, pasta plant, 2 sugar confectionery plants and a feminine hygiene manufacturing plant servicing the market via 19 distribution depots throughout South Africa, Eswatini, Lesotho and Mozambique. The group has an annual turnover of R12 billion and employs more than 8 000 people under stewardship of CEO Kobus Gertenbach.
Contact details:
Group Marketing, Strategy & HPC Business Executive: Siobhan O’Sullivan
+27 11 565 4623 | +27 82 561 5676 | siobhan.osullivan@premierfmcg.com
Premier