Fresh Food in South Africa

January 2025
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Overview:

Understand the latest market trends and future growth opportunities for the Fresh Food industry in South Africa with research from Euromonitor International's team of in-country analysts – experts by industry and geographic specialisation.

Key trends are clearly and succinctly summarised alongside the most current research data available. Understand and assess competitive threats and plan corporate strategy with our qualitative analysis, insight and confident growth projections.

Data and analysis in this report provides further detailed coverage dedicated to the following key categories, where applicable:

  • Eggs
  • Fish and Seafood
  • Fruits
  • Meat
  • Nuts
  • Pulses
  • Starchy Roots
  • Sugar and Sweeteners
  • Vegetables

If you're in the Fresh Food industry in South Africa, our research will help you to make informed, intelligent decisions; to recognise and profit from opportunity, or to offer resilience amidst market uncertainty.

The Fresh Food in South Africa report includes:

  • Analysis of key supply-side and demand trends
  • Detailed segmentation of international and local products
  • Historic volume and value sizes
  • Five year forecasts of market trends and market growth
  • Robust and transparent research methodology, conducted in-country

This report answers:

  • What is the market size of Fresh Food in South Africa?
  • What is the impact of commodity price fluctuations on local production and consumption?
  • What are the key campaigns or legislation driving Fresh Food sales?
  • How are consumer attitudes towards fresh food evolving?
  • How significant is health and wellness in shaping consumer demand?
  • Where is future growth expected to be most dynamic?

Fresh Food in South Africa

Fresh food in 2024: The big picture
2024 key trends
Retailing developments
What next for fresh food?
Table 1 Total Sales of Fresh Food by Category: Total Volume 2019-2024
Table 2 Total Sales of Fresh Food by Category: % Total Volume Growth 2019-2024
Table 3 Retail Sales of Fresh Food by Category: Volume 2019-2024
Table 4 Retail Sales of Fresh Food by Category: % Volume Growth 2019-2024
Table 5 Retail Sales of Fresh Food by Category: Value 2019-2024
Table 6 Retail Sales of Fresh Food by Category: % Value Growth 2019-2024
Table 7 Retail Sales of Fresh Food by Packaged vs Unpackaged: % Volume 2019-2024
Table 8 Retail Distribution of Fresh Food by Format: % Volume 2019-2024
Table 9 Forecast Total Sales of Fresh Food by Category: Total Volume 2024-2029
Table 10 Forecast Total Sales of Fresh Food by Category: % Total Volume Growth 2024-2029
Table 11 Forecast Retail Sales of Fresh Food by Category: Volume 2024-2029
Table 12 Forecast Retail Sales of Fresh Food by Category: % Volume Growth 2024-2029
Table 13 Forecast Retail Sales of Fresh Food by Category: Value 2024-2029
Table 14 Forecast Retail Sales of Fresh Food by Category: % Value Growth 2024-2029

DISCLAIMER

Summary 1 Research Sources

Eggs in South Africa

KEY DATA FINDINGS

Egg prices continue to soar amid bird flu outbreak
Despite rise of home-based businesses, price increases dampen consumption
Growth opportunity if egg prices stabilise
Largest producer acquires new breed to improve efficiencies and reduce risks in egg production
Summary 2 Major Processors of Eggs 2024
Table 15 Total Sales of Eggs: Total Volume 2019-2024
Table 16 Total Sales of Eggs: % Total Volume Growth 2019-2024
Table 17 Retail Sales of Eggs: Volume 2019-2024
Table 18 Retail Sales of Eggs: % Volume Growth 2019-2024
Table 19 Retail Sales of Eggs: Value 2019-2024
Table 20 Retail Sales of Eggs: % Value Growth 2019-2024
Table 21 Retail Sales of Eggs by Packaged vs Unpackaged: % Volume 2019-2024
Table 22 Forecast Total Sales of Eggs: Total Volume 2024-2029
Table 23 Forecast Total Sales of Eggs: % Total Volume Growth 2024-2029
Table 24 Forecast Retail Sales of Eggs: Volume 2024-2029
Table 25 Forecast Retail Sales of Eggs: % Volume Growth 2024-2029
Table 26 Forecast Retail Sales of Eggs: Value 2024-2029
Table 27 Forecast Retail Sales of Eggs: % Value Growth 2024-2029

Fish and Seafood in South Africa

KEY DATA FINDINGS

Price increases for fish and seafood force consumers to purchase more affordable shelf stable options
Sustainability factor increasingly influences choice of fish and seafood
Growth potential for fish and seafood by meeting health and sustainability criteria
Aquaculture could play a greater role in increasing seafood consumption
Summary 3 Major Processors of Fish and Seafood 2024
Table 28 Total Sales of Fish and Seafood by Category: Total Volume 2019-2024
Table 29 Total Sales of Fish and Seafood by Category: % Total Volume Growth 2019-2024
Table 30 Retail Sales of Fish and Seafood by Category: Volume 2019-2024
Table 31 Retail Sales of Fish and Seafood by Category: % Volume Growth 2019-2024
Table 32 Retail Sales of Fish and Seafood by Category: Value 2019-2024
Table 33 Retail Sales of Fish and Seafood by Category: % Value Growth 2019-2024
Table 34 Retail Sales of Fish and Seafood by Packaged vs Unpackaged: % Volume 2019-2024
Table 35 Forecast Total Sales of Fish and Seafood by Category: Total Volume 2024-2029
Table 36 Forecast Total Sales of Fish and Seafood by Category: % Total Volume Growth 2024-2029
Table 37 Forecast Retail Sales of Fish and Seafood by Category: Volume 2024-2029
Table 38 Forecast Retail Sales of Fish and Seafood by Category: % Volume Growth 2024-2029
Table 39 Forecast Retail Sales of Fish and Seafood by Category: Value 2024-2029
Table 40 Forecast Retail Sales of Fish and Seafood by Category: % Value Growth 2024-2029

Fruits in South Africa

KEY DATA FINDINGS

Mixed performance for fruits during the year
Frooties launched by Shoprite Checkers, offering child-friendly fruit snacks
Affordability remains a key priority for fresh fruit sales
Optimistic outlook as consumers incorporate higher fruit content into their diets
Summary 4 Major Processors of Fruits 2024
Table 41 Total Sales of Fruits by Category: Total Volume 2019-2024
Table 42 Total Sales of Fruits by Category: % Total Volume Growth 2019-2024
Table 43 Retail Sales of Fruits by Category: Volume 2019-2024
Table 44 Retail Sales of Fruits by Category: % Volume Growth 2019-2024
Table 45 Retail Sales of Fruits by Category: Value 2019-2024
Table 46 Retail Sales of Fruits by Category: % Value Growth 2019-2024
Table 47 Retail Sales of Fruits by Packaged vs Unpackaged: % Volume 2019-2024
Table 48 Forecast Total Sales of Fruits by Category: Total Volume 2024-2029
Table 49 Forecast Total Sales of Fruits by Category: % Total Volume Growth 2024-2029
Table 50 Forecast Retail Sales of Fruits by Category: Volume 2024-2029
Table 51 Forecast Retail Sales of Fruits by Category: % Volume Growth 2024-2029
Table 52 Forecast Retail Sales of Fruits by Category: Value 2024-2029
Table 53 Forecast Retail Sales of Fruits by Category: % Value Growth 2024-2029

Meat in South Africa

KEY DATA FINDINGS

Consumer demand remains low despite meat prices stabilising
Rainbow Chicken unbundled from RCL Foods despite industry challenges
Poultry prices expected to stabilise after recent fluctuations
Plan to launch shelf stable chicken could increase competition for fresh options
Summary 5 Major Processors of Meat 2024
Table 54 Total Sales of Meat by Category: Total Volume 2019-2024
Table 55 Total Sales of Meat by Category: % Total Volume Growth 2019-2024
Table 56 Retail Sales of Meat by Category: Volume 2019-2024
Table 57 Retail Sales of Meat by Category: % Volume Growth 2019-2024
Table 58 Retail Sales of Meat by Category: Value 2019-2024
Table 59 Retail Sales of Meat by Category: % Value Growth 2019-2024
Table 60 Retail Sales of Meat by Packaged vs Unpackaged: % Volume 2019-2024
Table 61 Forecast Sales of Meat by Category: Total Volume 2024-2029
Table 62 Forecast Sales of Meat by Category: % Total Volume Growth 2024-2029
Table 63 Forecast Retail Sales of Meat by Category: Volume 2024-2029
Table 64 Forecast Retail Sales of Meat by Category: % Volume Growth 2024-2029
Table 65 Forecast Retail Sales of Meat by Category: Value 2024-2029
Table 66 Forecast Retail Sales of Meat by Category: % Value Growth 2024-2029

Nuts in South Africa

KEY DATA FINDINGS

Oversupply of nuts encourages players to expand into packaged food
Competition from processed nuts as consumers seek convenience
Growing global health trend offers opportunity for nuts
Increased local production has potential to provide more affordable nuts
Summary 6 Major Processors of Nuts 2024
Table 67 Total Sales of Nuts by Category: Total Volume 2019-2024
Table 68 Total Sales of Nuts by Category: % Total Volume Growth 2019-2024
Table 69 Retail Sales of Nuts by Category: Volume 2019-2024
Table 70 Retail Sales of Nuts by Category: % Volume Growth 2019-2024
Table 71 Retail Sales of Nuts by Category: Value 2019-2024
Table 72 Retail Sales of Nuts by Category: % Value Growth 2019-2024
Table 73 Retail Sales of Nuts by Packaged vs Unpackaged: % Volume 2019-2024
Table 74 Forecast Total Sales of Nuts by Category: Total Volume 2024-2029
Table 75 Forecast Total Sales of Nuts by Category: % Total Volume Growth 2024-2029
Table 76 Forecast Retail Sales of Nuts by Category: Volume 2024-2029
Table 77 Forecast Retail Sales of Nuts by Category: % Volume Growth 2024-2029
Table 78 Forecast Retail Sales of Nuts by Category: Value 2024-2029
Table 79 Forecast Retail Sales of Nuts by Category: % Value Growth 2024-2029

Pulses in South Africa

KEY DATA FINDINGS

Growing flexitarian trend drives dynamic growth of other pulses
Affordable private label options continue to attract price-sensitive consumers to pulses
Plant-based trend creates further opportunity for other pulses
Pulses such as beans are important crops for rotation
Summary 7 Major Processors of Pulses 2024
Table 80 Total Sales of Pulses by Category: Total Volume 2019-2024
Table 81 Total Sales of Pulses by Category: % Total Volume Growth 2019-2024
Table 82 Retail Sales of Pulses by Category: Volume 2019-2024
Table 83 Retail Sales of Pulses by Category: % Volume Growth 2019-2024
Table 84 Retail Sales of Pulses by Category: Value 2019-2024
Table 85 Retail Sales of Pulses by Category: % Value Growth 2019-2024
Table 86 Retail Sales of Pulses by Packaged vs Unpackaged: % Volume 2019-2024
Table 87 Forecast Total Sales of Pulses by Category: Total Volume 2024-2029
Table 88 Forecast Total Sales of Pulses by Category: % Total Volume Growth 2024-2029
Table 89 Forecast Retail Sales of Pulses by Category: Volume 2024-2029
Table 90 Forecast Retail Sales of Pulses by Category: % Volume Growth 2024-2029
Table 91 Forecast Retail Sales of Pulses by Category: Value 2024-2029
Table 92 Forecast Retail Sales of Pulses by Category: % Value Growth 2024-2029

Starchy Roots in South Africa

KEY DATA FINDINGS

Home cooking continues to drive demand for starchy roots
High yields and diverse planting of potatoes slow down price increases in South Africa
Sweet potatoes can potentially combat malnutrition in South Africa
Sustainability to become greater area of focus over the forecast period
Summary 8 Major Processors of Starchy Roots 2024
Table 93 Total Sales of Starchy Roots by Category: Total Volume 2019-2024
Table 94 Total Sales of Starchy Roots by Category: % Total Volume Growth 2019-2024
Table 95 Retail Sales of Starchy Roots by Category: Volume 2019-2024
Table 96 Retail Sales of Starchy Roots by Category: % Volume Growth 2019-2024
Table 97 Retail Sales of Starchy Roots by Category: Value 2019-2024
Table 98 Retail Sales of Starchy Roots by Category: % Value Growth 2019-2024
Table 99 Retail Sales of Starchy Roots by Packaged vs Unpackaged: % Volume 2019-2024
Table 100 Forecast Total Sales of Starchy Roots by Category: Total Volume 2024-2029
Table 101 Forecast Total Sales of Starchy Roots by Category: % Total Volume Growth 2024-2029
Table 102 Forecast Retail Sales of Starchy Roots by Category: Volume 2024-2029
Table 103 Forecast Retail Sales of Starchy Roots by Category: % Volume Growth 2024-2029
Table 104 Forecast Retail Sales of Starchy Roots by Category: Value 2024-2029
Table 105 Forecast Retail Sales of Starchy Roots by Category: % Value Growth 2024-2029

Sugar and Sweeteners in South Africa

KEY DATA FINDINGS

Sugar producers continue to face challenges in South Africa
Health promotion levy remains a threat to local industry
Sugar producers will continue to feel the threat of global health trend
Sustainability to become greater area of focus over the forecast period
Summary 9 Major Processors of Sugar and Sweeteners 2024
Table 106 Total Sales of Sugar and Sweeteners: Total Volume 2019-2024
Table 107 Total Sales of Sugar and Sweeteners: % Total Volume Growth 2019-2024
Table 108 Retail Sales of Sugar and Sweeteners: Volume 2019-2024
Table 109 Retail Sales of Sugar and Sweeteners: % Volume Growth 2019-2024
Table 110 Retail Sales of Sugar and Sweeteners: Value 2019-2024
Table 111 Retail Sales of Sugar and Sweeteners: % Value Growth 2019-2024
Table 112 Retail Sales of Sugar and Sweeteners by Packaged vs Unpackaged: % Volume 2019-2024
Table 113 Forecast Total Sales of Sugar and Sweeteners: Total Volume 2024-2029
Table 114 Forecast Total Sales of Sugar and Sweeteners: % Total Volume Growth 2024-2029
Table 115 Forecast Retail Sales of Sugar and Sweeteners: Volume 2024-2029
Table 116 Forecast Retail Sales of Sugar and Sweeteners: % Volume Growth 2024-2029
Table 117 Forecast Retail Sales of Sugar and Sweeteners: Value 2024-2029
Table 118 Forecast Retail Sales of Sugar and Sweeteners: % Value Growth 2024-2029

Vegetables in South Africa

KEY DATA FINDINGS

Vegetables continue to benefit from home cooking
Improving weather conditions and reduced power outages lead to slower pace of price increases for vegetables
Sustainability to become greater focus area over the forecast period
Processed vegetables provide competition due to convenience trend
Summary 10 Major Processors of Vegetables 2024
Table 119 Total Sales of Vegetables by Category: Total Volume 2019-2024
Table 120 Total Sales of Vegetables by Category: % Total Volume Growth 2019-2024
Table 121 Retail Sales of Vegetables by Category: Volume 2019-2024
Table 122 Retail Sales of Vegetables by Category: % Volume Growth 2019-2024
Table 123 Retail Sales of Vegetables by Category: Value 2019-2024
Table 124 Retail Sales of Vegetables by Category: % Value Growth 2019-2024
Table 125 Retail Sales of Vegetables by Packaged vs Unpackaged: % Volume 2019-2024
Table 126 Forecast Total Sales of Vegetables by Category: Total Volume 2024-2029
Table 127 Forecast Total Sales of Vegetables by Category: % Total Volume Growth 2024-2029
Table 128 Forecast Retail Sales of Vegetables by Category: Volume 2024-2029
Table 129 Forecast Retail Sales of Vegetables by Category: % Volume Growth 2024-2029
Table 130 Forecast Retail Sales of Vegetables by Category: Value 2024-2029
Table 131 Forecast Retail Sales of Vegetables by Category: % Value Growth 2024-2029
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The following categories and subcategories are included:

Fresh Food

  • Eggs
    • Crustaceans
    • Fish
    • Molluscs and Cephalopods
    • Apples
    • Banana
    • Cherries
    • Cranberries/Blueberries
    • Grapefruit/Pomelo
    • Grapes
    • Kiwi Fruit
    • Lemon and Limes
    • Oranges, Tangerines and Mandarins
    • Peaches/Nectarines
    • Pears/Quinces
    • Pineapple
    • Plums/Sloes
    • Strawberries
    • Other Fruits
    • Beef and Veal
    • Lamb, Mutton and Goat
    • Pork
    • Poultry
    • Other Meat
    • Almonds
    • Coconuts
    • Peanuts (Groundnuts)
    • Pistachio
    • Walnuts
    • Other Nuts
    • Beans
    • Peas
    • Other Pulses
    • Cassava
    • Potatoes
    • Sweet Potatoes
    • Other Roots
  • Sugar and Sweeteners
    • Cauliflowers and broccoli
    • Maize
    • Onion
    • Tomatoes
    • Other Vegetables

Fresh Food

Fresh Food refers only to fresh uncooked and unprocessed foods (packaged and unpackaged). Packaged sugar products and natural sweeteners (e.g. brown sugar, table sugar, molasses) are also included. For Fresh Food, we research total sales across distribution channels including retail, foodservice and institutions. For a selected 18 markets, we have a breakdown of total fresh food sales according to the following formats: • Retail • Foodservice sales • Institutional sales Retail Retail sales is defined as sales through all legal establishments primarily engaged in the sale of fresh, packaged and prepared foods for home preparation and consumption. Retail sales excludes sales to hotels, restaurants, cafés, duty free sales and institutional sales (canteens, prisons/jails, hospitals, army, etc). Our retail definition excludes the purchase of food products from foodservice outlets for consumption off-premises, eg grilled chicken/meat/fish bought from counters of cafés/bars. This falls under foodservice sales. For foodservice, we capture all sales to foodservice outlets, regardless of whether the products are eventually consumed on-premise or off-premise. We estimate sales through the following channels: Modern Grocery Retailers • Supermarkets • Hypermarkets • Discounters • Convenience stores • Forecourt retailers Traditional Grocery Retailers • Independent small grocers • Food/Drink/Tobacco Specialists • Other grocery retailers (morning/speciality/open/wet/farmers’ markets, stalls and kiosks, etc) Non-grocery retailers • Health and beauty specialist retailers • Other non-grocery retailers Non-store retailers • Homeshopping • Internet retailing • Vending • Direct selling Foodservice Foodservice sales are defined as sales TO consumer foodservice outlets that serve the general public in a non-captive environment. In other words, this means that the foodservice volumes track sales of all fresh food going into restaurant kitchens, regardless of what the restaurant actually does with that food. Foodservice outlets include cafés/bars, FSR (full-service restaurants), fast food, 100% home delivery/takeaway, self-service cafeterias and street stalls/kiosks. Sales to semi-captive foodservice outlets are also included. This describes outlets located in leisure, travel and retail environments. • Retail refers to foodservice units located in retail outlets such as department stores, shopping malls, shopping centres, super/hypermarkets etc. • Leisure refers to foodservice units located in leisure establishments such as museums, health clubs, cinemas, theatres, theme parks and sports stadiums. • Travel refers to foodservice units based in airports, rail stations, coach stations, motorway service stations offering gas facilities etc. Institutional sales Institutional sales is defined as sales to captive foodservice units that serve captive populations such as in hospitals, schools, prisons, military camps, hotels, hostels, nursing homes, homes for elderly people, religious houses, etc.

See all of our definitions
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