Pioneer Foods: inaugurates bakery in KwaZulu-Natal

Paarl / ZA. (pf) Pioneer Foods inaugurated a new 470 million ZAR (33,21 million EUR) bakery at Shakaskraal in KwaZulu-Natal, the garden province in the east of South Africa (Capital of KwaZulu-Natal is Pietermaritzburg and the largest city is Durban). The new bakery, working under the Sasko brand, is located in the north of Durban. The modern facility has the capacity to produce more than 200’000 loaves per day from multiple lines, and provides more than 200 long-term jobs for local communities. Sasko Bakeries executive Riaan Heyl said with the Shakaskraal bakery coming on stream, «… we are adding critical growth capacity to the important KwaZulu-Natal and coastal markets». Following estimates, KwaZulu-Natal counts approximately 10,45 million residents. Pioneer Foods said the «green technologies and eco-friendly processes» used at the bakery would allow Sasko to further reduce its environmental impact. The bakery includes translucent sheets in the roof to reduce electrical lighting needs. The facility harvests rain water for truck washing and for irrigation. It employs renewable resource-fired boilers, reflective white roof sheets to reduce the need for internal cooling and heat recovery on refrigeration equipment for the pre-heating of water. For the year ended 30 September 2013, Pioneer Foods had announced revenues of 20’551 million ZAR (up ten percent). Operating profit (before items of a capital nature) was 1’057 million ZAR (up two percent). Adjusted operating profit (before items of a capital nature) was 1’271 million ZAR (up nine percent). Adjusted headline earnings were 826 million ZAR (up 13 percent).