Pure Folk, a fermented foods business dedicated to enhancing gut health, has been announced as the top social enterprise supplier to Food Lover’s Market after a stringent boot camp and a day of pitching to senior Food Lover’s Market Executives at Workshop 17 in Cape Town. The Food Lover’s Market Seeds of Change Supplier Development Partnership, an initiative launched in March this year for the fourth consecutive year, was created as an opportunity for social enterprises to join the fresh produce retailer’s network as a supplier. Arable Grow (a verticle farming enterprise) was placed second, and Cap n’ Hook (a fish processing and smokehouse facility) was placed third.
The top ten businesses attended a week-long boot camp from 10 – 14 June 2024, culminating in a final “Fertile Ground” five-minute elevator pitch to the Food Lover’s Market panel on 14 June 2024, with the top three applicants announced on the same day. After impressing the panel with her confidant and passionate business pitch, Mpho Sithole, from Pure Folk Fermented Foods, was selected as the top applicant. Pure Folk Fermented Foods is dedicated to serving those seeking to enhance gut health and overall well-being through natural foods. The range includes an exciting variety of sauerkrauts, kimchis, kombuchas, kombucha vinegar, ginger-infused beet kvass, water kefirs, and fire tonics.
In a surprise announcement, Travis Coppin – CEO of Food Lover’s Market Retail – confirmed that in addition to the top three pitches, all applicants in the Top Ten will be listed at Food Lover’s Market as suppliers after impressing the panel with the quality of their presentations.
Terri Coppin-Harris, Culture and Communication Manager for the Food Lover’s Market Group, says, “We believe the top three winners will all contribute to affirming Food Lover’s Market as the best fresh destination in South Africa. They will each have their own incredible business journey that mirrors Food Lover’s Market’s entrepreneurial spirit.”
“Our company purpose is to ‘nourish and enrich lives’, forming part of our drive to find social and environmental entrepreneurs with great products that will delight our customers. We feel all ten of our applicants share these values – creating impact through the power of their businesses.”
Says Sithole, “Winning the Seeds of Change Supplier Development Partnership is life-changing for me and my business. It is an opportunity to grow and learn, and I’m delighted to be part of the Food Lover’s Market network. I would encourage other social entrepreneurs to apply to join the programme next year. Whether you are listed as a supplier or not, the knowledge, hands-on experience and exposure to the business process are invaluable in understanding what it takes to grow your business and work with a major retailer such as Food Lover’s Market.”
The four-day boot camp kicked off with Brian Coppin, CEO of the Food Lover’s Market Group, discussing the challenges of growing a business. The rest of the week included face-to-face workshops with buyers and guidance from specialists across the Food Lover’s Market business.
On the fifth day, the top ten businesses pitched to the Food Lover’s Market panel, which consisted of Michael Coppin (co-founder of Food Lover’s Market), Travis Coppin (CEO of Food Lover’s Market retail division), Andrew Millson (Group HR and Sustainability executive), Stephen van Vuuren (Managing Executive: Buying), and Lisa Currey (Managing Director of Hamiltons Advertising).
The Top Ten
- Mashela Mokgabudi – Gentishe Menstrual Cup
- Bontle Tshole – Baaa Health
- Hein Duvenhage – Arable Grow
- Lebogang Sibuyi – Lesedi Farm Holdings
- Shamoil Cassoojee – Cap ‘n Hook Fish Processing
- Gladys Mawoneke – Breva Beverages
- Tebello Khanya – Bonolo Scents
- Dario da Silva – Just Broth
- Mpho Sithole – Pure Folk Fermented Foods
- Lisa Labinjoh – Lilah’s Kitchen
“While fresh produce and food products have traditionally been the cornerstone of most of the applications, we are absolutely delighted that the Seeds of Change Supplier Development Partnership has grown in its fourth year to include feminine hygiene products, a plant-based offering, products that promote gut health, verticle farming, cleaning detergents and fish processing. This initiative is important to Food Lover’s Market as it’s an opportunity to create employment and social impact across South Africa and make Food Lover’s Market a one-stop shopping destination catering to all our customers’ needs.”
“We wish to thank our partners who have come on board to help us grow these social enterprises. Cap n’ Hook in 3rd place will receive a free brand consultation with Hamiltons Advertising – the creative agency for Food Lover’s Market. In 2nd place, Arable Grow will receive quarterly business advice from Food Lover’s Market Co-Founder Mike Coppin. Our winner, Pure Folk Fermented Food, will receive a full year of coaching from Christoff Oosthuysen from Social Enterprise Academy,” concludes Coppin-Harris.
The Seeds of Change Development Partnership, a Food Lover’s Market Earth Lovers initiative, was facilitated by the Social Enterprise Academy (SEA), a specialist learning and development organisation supporting social change organisations in South Africa.
