Patterns of restructuring food markets in South Africa: The case of fresh produce supply chains

The restructuring process of the food markets in South Africa is at an advanced stages of consolidation and the emergence dominance of few supermarket chains expanding into non-traditional areas, through franchise format stores and forecourt stores overtaking informal wet markets and green grocers. The growth has been followed by consolidation of the procurement system from a decentralised to a centralised procurement and distribution mechanism replacing the wholesaling function of the National Fresh Produce Markets. The growth in disposable income, , population growth and urbanization have fuelled the demand food outlets like supermarkets which in turn fuels innovations and dynamic changes surrounding supermarkets Keywords: Fresh produce, Procurement, South Afric

Smallholders and agro-food value chains in South Africa: Emerging practices, emerging challenges

A key emerging strand in the development of smallholder agriculture in South Africa is the effort to integrate smallholders into corporate food retail value chains. In this, the private sector and government have a common agenda, which is to build a commercial smallholder class that does not require ongoing financial support for survival, but which is able to stand on its own feet and compete in the market. Both government and the private sector recognise the need for some kind of ‘start-up’ support, and Walmart-Massmart’s recently announced supplier fund will put pressure on other food retailers to deepen their own activities in this regard