Page 71 - KZN Top Business Portfolio-eBook 2022

of sugar cane cultivated by independent growers, SA has been instrumental in creating sustainable
together with a small tonnage of cane produced by formal employment opportunities; as well as creating
Illovo’s own agricultural operations. Land holdings in platforms to support and enable businesses in the
South Africa have been strategically reduced from the cane growing community in rural KwaZulu-Natal. The
mid-90s to make way for the growth and development business is playing its part in building rural economies
of Black smallholder cane growers within Illovo SA’s and entrepreneurs.
cane supply areas.
Faced by limited opportunities in remote, rural areas,
Illovo SA sugar markets are largely domestic, with cane cultivation alongside nearby sugar mills offers
sales into the world raw sugar market. Downstream private farmers the prospect of creating sustainable
products are primarily export focused. The company livelihoods for themselves and employment for
also operates a state of-the-art sugar warehouse and others. Illovo SA prioritise new cane developments
distribution centre providing a strategic link between through inclusive growth models and shared value
its sugar factories in KwaZulu-Natal and its nationally in its supply chain to bring mutual benefit to both
based customers. There are six sugar producers in business and society.
South Africa with combined production of under two Partnering with local farmers, transporters,
million tons.
contractors and other small, medium and micro-sized
Technology enterprises in the supply chain brings about multiplied
While using technology to connect with Illovo SA’s socio-economic benefits to the communities in which
grower base has been one of the biggest growth the company operates.
areas over the past ten years, it accelerated during CSI initiatives
the coronavirus pandemic. A significant shift in Illovo SA aims to build thriving communities within the
the ‘ways of work’ has been a move from the in- communities in which it operates through various CSI
person interactions to more consistently online initiatives. The group lives its shared value mandate
or digital forms of communication. Many growers to foster thriving South African communities and key
have missed the physical conversation and face-to to its success is in the continued efforts in partnering
face engagement. However, the good news is that with government, engaging with stakeholders,
Illovo has been able to fast track the adoption of communities, and consumers to understand societal
digitalisation and technology amongst its grower challenges. Illovo SA is committed to creating an
base, which would possibly have taken longer had the environment in which both its business and the
global pandemic not occurred.
communities that host its operations thrive through
Shared Value its presence and the operations there. They actively
Illovo SA prides itself on its positive contributory engage with local and regional leaders to identify
role in the sugar industry creating meaningful rural and implement CSI projects that address select
employment opportunities in KwaZulu Natal. Illovo vulnerabilities within the communities.

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