The growth challenges of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in South Africa's food processing complex

Figures & data

Table 1: Concentration in the food sector, 1996

		Industry sales in percentage terms for largest
Food sector and sector	Number of companies	4 companies	10 companies
Meat, fish, fruit, vegetables, oils and fats	480	19,6	36,8
Vegetables and animal oils and fats	16	65,2	97,8
Canned and processed fruit and vegetables	157	35,0	55,0
Canned and processed fish	46	57,8	79,2
Dairy products	113	68,4	80,0
Fresh milk	46	70,8	83,5
Butter and cheese	17	82,0	97,4
Milk powder and other edible milk products	13	87,0	99,9
Grain mill products	283	36,0	56,4
Flour	209	42,6	64,8
Breakfast foods, starches and starch products	8	95,4	-
Prepared animal feeds	72	37,3	60,1
Other food products	821	26,1	53,3
Coffee, coffee substitutes and tea	15	80,4	95,8
Bakery products	522	45,3	62,6
Cocoa, chocolates and sugar confectionery	72	72,9	82,4
Source: Adapted from Vink & Kirsten (2002).

Table 2: Standard Industrial Classification code for firms in the 30-company survey

SIC Code and description	Number of firms in survey
301: Meat, fish, fruit, vegetables, oils and fats	8
302: Dairy products	10
303: Grain mill products, starches, starch products, prepared animal feeds	7
304: Other food products (e.g. honey, chilli sauce, etc.)	5
Total	30

Figure 1: Operating environments for SME and large food processors

Vink , N and Kirsten , J . 2002 . Pricing behaviour in the South African food and agricultural sector , Pretoria : Report commissioned by the National Treasury .

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