We support the communities that enable our success
To achieve our purpose of uplifting lives every day, we have made it our responsibility to make a difference in the lives of the most vulnerable through the Group’s #ActForChange Fund, as well as its other CSI programmes and initiatives in partnership with community organisations.
The communities we serve are always at the core of our business, and our CSI strategy and social investment initiatives are aligned with our purpose, values and our priority to be a force for good. We promote the wellbeing, safety and sustainability of our communities, and seek ways to address their needs by pioneering access to affordable goods and services, and creating economic opportunities.
Our community investments include programmes to focus on hunger relief and food security, youth unemployment and enterprise supplier development.
In addition, the Group's non-profit organisation, the Shoprite Foundation, focuses specifically on empowering communities through education and skills development, employees through the Shoprite Employee Trust, and developing SMMEs through ESD initiatives.
Join us as we #ActForChange:
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4 408 tons | |
| PER YEAR IN SURPLUS FOOD DONATIONS | ||
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6 046 | |
| UNEMPLOYED YOUTH TRAINED VIA RRP AND YES PROGRAMME | ||
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R20 million | |
| INVESTED IN SUPPLIER DEVELOPMENT THROUGH SHOPRITE NEXT CAPITAL | ||
* Our contributions for FY2024
Hunger relief and food security
Our core socio-economic focus is on food security and hunger relief. We aim to fight hunger, build resilience within communities, and support long-term socio-economic transformation. Some of our initiatives include surplus food donations, the development of food gardens, and urgent disaster relief by way of our Mobile Soup Kitchen trucks.
Furthermore, we provide much-needed nutritional support to early childhood development (ECD) education centres, also collaborate with our suppliers and partner organisations to assist our network of beneficiaries.
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195 659 | |
| MEALS SERVED PER DAY | ||
| To vulnerable communities through our CSI progammes | |
|
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88 427 kg | |
| PRODUCE | ||
| Harvested through 248 community food gardens | |
|
The Group’s surplus food donations serve a dual purpose: we help communities in need while reducing the environmental impact of surplus food being wasted. In the last financial year, we donated R233.9 million surplus food and goods (FY 2024).
Adequate nutrition is essential for learning. We provide support to improve the circumstances of children in selected Early Childhood Development (ECD) centres at a critical time in their development. In the last financial year, we supported 124 ECD centres, benefiting 8 490 children (FY 2024). The meals we provide are designed to nourish physical health and growth, and boost mental concentration.
In addition, we provide skills and development training to aid ECD practitioners in providing safe and stimulating day-care centres.
As part of our ongoing care for our communities, we offer support when natural disasters occur. Since its inception in 2007, our Mobile Soup Kitchens have served more than 61.1 million* meals to those in need. We are often among the first to respond to communities in distress by providing hunger relief and provided 7.9 million hot meals throughout the year (FY 2024).
Youth unemployment and skills development
We invest in and train both employed and unemployed youth who are interested in pursuing a career in retail. This is done largely through pivotal Group programmes such as our Retail Readiness Programme (RRP), the Youth Employment Services (YES) Initiative, and our extensive bursary programme. These programmes provide individuals with the skills required to secure jobs in the retail industry.
Enterprise supplier development
By supporting local small, medium and micro enterprises (SMME), we help to create a transformed and inclusive society. Our network and scale enable us to grow SMMEs into larger-scale suppliers by providing them with access to market. Our focus lies on growing expenditure on SMME suppliers, particularly black-owned and black women-owned businesses. As these businesses grow, more employment opportunities are created within communities.
As part of our ongoing enterprise supplier development (ESD) initiatives, we also provide vital aid to farmers through seasonal growing programmes and access to our distribution centres.