By Sue Segar
EVERY day, all its 800 stores nationwide, the Shoprite group makes available 600 gram bread loafs at a cost of R5, as well as nutritious deli meals for R5.
Sanjeev Raghubir, Head of Sustainability and CSI at the Shoprite Group, said there are queues in the shops every day for these economic foods.
Shoprite also spent close to R400 million on programmes such as mobile soup kitchens which provide meals to people throughout South Africa every day.
“Last year, the group served about 7,1 million meals,” said Raghubir. “Additionally the group supports about 220 community food gardens, where communities are mentored to grow their own food. These have impacted 61 064 hungry people.
“In the same programme, we support about 3 700 household food gardens. We also do surplus food donations (R226 million worth this year and equating to 67 million meals) from our stores, which ensures food still fit for consumption is not wasted,” Raghubir said. He added that Shoprite also has a programme supporting 114 Early Childhood Development Centres (ECDs) where about 7 300 children receive a nutrition meal every day.
The Shoprite Group recently commissioned research to focus national attention on food insecurity and mobilise South Africans to explore every feasible option to end hunger by 2030 in line with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.
The Food index leverages data on food insecurity from World Data Lab.
“The research found that, despite the grim numbers, the incidence of people escaping food insecurity is improving. In 2020, 52% of South Africa was food insecure. The projections for 2025 show this declining to just under 49%,” the group said in a statement.
It found by 2025 nearly half of SA’s population will be food insecure, with 48.96% of the population potentially not having enough food.
“Provincially, Limpopo will suffer the worst food insecurity with 54% of the population not sure where their next meal will come from. While numbers in Western Cape and Gauteng will be better, they are still high at 41% and 47% respectively.
Raghubir said Shoprite commissioned the research to better understand the extent of food insecurity in SA (“and where we need to focus our efforts”).
The group has a strong tradition of supporting food security, having started its bread scheme in 2016 already. “Even then, the purchasing power of a R5 coin was not significant, but it introduced a loaf of bread for R5, which we continue to sell.
“Shoprite’s ambition has always been to be the most affordable retailer; we pride ourselves in wanting to be a champion for the lowest prices, basket for basket. It’s part of our purpose to uplift lives every day by delivering the most affordable goods and services. It’s really part of the DNA of Shoprite by being as efficient as possible in its operations.”
Raghubir said that, although the research data suggests there has been a slight improvement, “it still means by 2025, just under half the population will be food insecure.
Raghubir stressed the importance of focussing national attention on food insecurity and mobilising South Africans to explore all options to end hunger by 2030 in line with the SDGs.
“There’s a need for collaboration across the food value chain from agriculture to manufacturing to retailers, to government, civil society and NGOs working in this space to address this issue.”
In commissioning the research, the Group aims to increase awareness of food insecurity and encourage South Africans to support initiatives rolling back hunger and poverty.
“There are many ways ordinary people can contribute to existing programmes. Consumers can donate as little as R5 to the Act For Change Fund at any Shoprite, Checkers or Usave supermarket. These donations are distributed to communities though vetted beneficiary organisations including Rise Against Hunger, Meals on Wheels, Operation Hunger and more.
“Other ways to help could include starting or contributing to a food garden or volunteering at a soup kitchen. Cumulatively even small interventions can make a significant difference,” said Raghubir.
