Tiger Brands receives first bean crop from South Africa’s North West province smallholder farmers

SOUTH AFRICA – Tiger Brands has partnered with SE Holdings, a leading agricultural company, to cultivate 1,500 hectares of small white beans in Bronkhorstspruit, Westonaria, and North West for the KOO brand, creating over 100 permanent and 1,000 seasonal jobs.

Tiger Brands has officially received the season’s first delivery of A Grade small white beans from emerging farmers in South Africa’s North West province, marking a major milestone in its push for sustainable local sourcing and national food security.

Thirteen smallholder farmers, more than half of whom are women, have begun supplying the beans, which will be used in the production of KOO Baked Beans, a household staple across the country.

This initiative is part of Tiger Brands’ broader strategy to reduce reliance on imports and strengthen the resilience of South Africa’s agricultural sector.

Additionally, this initiative strengthens national food security by replacing imports with dependable, locally sourced crops. It leverages blended finance and strategic project planning to ensure traceability and long-term sustainability.

Following a challenging 2024 season that saw Tiger Brands importing beans due to poor local yields, the company ramped up its support for smallholder farmers.

“It was a devastating reality we faced when local farmers were unable to meet the necessary volumes last season, forcing us to look beyond South African borders to fill the supply gap,” said Dumo Mfini, Managing Director of Culinary for Tiger Brands. 

“This new season, we have optimised our support for local farmers so that they are better equipped to handle the anticipated and sometimes unforeseen challenges of agricultural production.”

In partnership with SE Holdings, led by commercial farmers and aggregator Mpumi Maesela, Tiger Brands provided end-to-end agricultural services including financial aid, agronomic mentoring, mechanisation, and crop health optimisation.

To boost efficiency and reduce operating costs, Tiger Brands invested R6 million in equipment, including harvesters and drone technology, enabling farmers to meet world-class quality standards.

These tools have significantly improved harvesting rates and spraying precision, helping farmers deliver higher yields despite climate variability.

Thanks to La Niña weather conditions, which brought consistent rainfall throughout the growing season, the 2025 crop is expected to yield high-quality volumes.

Maesela emphasised that the partnership transforms bean farming from a subsistence activity into a bankable business, with rigorous financial modelling and hands-on technical support paving the way for long-term success.

Once harvested, the beans are cleaned, sorted, and processed at Tiger Brands’ Culinary facility in Boksburg, where they are canned with a proprietary sauce and shipped to retailers.

The facility can process up to 2.2 million cans per day, ensuring that South Africans continue to enjoy their favorite baked beans with consistent quality.

This season’s success sets the stage for the 2025/2026 cohort, with Tiger Brands already identifying new farmers to receive technical and financial support.

The initiative not only secures local supply but also contributes to job creation, community development, and South Africa’s just agricultural transition.

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