From Creamer Media in Johannesburg, this is the Real Economy Report.

Sashnee Moodley:

Tiger Brands has invested R632-million since 2016 at its Home and Personal Care plant in Isando, with the latest planned upgrades being two new production lines in the aerosol factory, which produces signature household brands Doom and Airoma. Marleny Arnoldi visited the site.

Marleny Arnoldi:

The two new fully automated production lines in Tiger Brands’ aerosol factory will be up and running by October and will cost about R178-million to build. Tiger Brands also recently spent R50-million on upgrades to its warehouse, which serves as storage for the three surrounding factories comprising the HPC site.

The HPC business comprises 18 brands, including Doom, Airoma, Peaceful Sleep, Jeyes, Ingram’s, Dolly Varden, Perfect Touch, No Hair and Status.

HPC plant manager Cleon Naicker shares what output capacity improvements the two new production lines will bring.

HPC plant manager Cleon Naicker:

Marleny Arnoldi:

The HPC site was among the first that Tiger Brands kitted out with solar panels, with many more builds and renewable energy procurements to follow at its 35 manufacturing sites across the country.

The company aims to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2050.

Naicker unpacks the company’s energy efficiency and factory optimisation initiatives at the site.

HPC plant manager Cleon Naicker:

Marleny Arnoldi:

The HPC business is currently focused on driving profit growth in the sub-Saharan Africa region, particularly by leveraging four global trends in developing products and packaging suited to the modern consumer.

The trends include health and wellbeing, individuality and expression, naturality and sustainability, and affordability and ease of access. For example, Tiger Brands noted that Covid-19 enhanced consumers’ awareness on hygiene and germs, as well as overall wellness in the home.

The company also realised that consumers prefer to use brands that have environmental protection in mind, and equally strive to get more value out of products when inflation hits hard.

To this end, Tiger Brands has continuously considered the right product types, formulations and size offerings to suit market needs.

HPC marketing manager Lungelwa Moagi discusses the company’s approach to research and development.

HPC marketing manager Lungelwa Moagi

Sashnee Moodley:

That’s Creamer Media’s Real Economy Report. Join us again next week for more news and insight into South Africa’s real economy. Don’t forget to listen to the audio version of our Engineering News daily email newsletter.