Tiger Brands is expanding its Albany Bread-On-The-Streets initiative, with plans to create at least 3,000 income-generating opportunities for entrepreneurs across South Africa within the next year.
More than 800 Bread-On-The-Streets (BOTS) stands are already operating, each managed by an individual entrepreneur selling Albany bread directly to consumers.
The stands are positioned in high-footfall locations such as taxi ranks, bus stations and busy roadsides close to Albany Bakeries in Gauteng, the Western Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga and the Free State, with expansion into other provinces planned.
For Tiger Brands, the model combines commercial expansion with an opportunity to create additional sources of income in communities experiencing high levels of unemployment.
“BOTS allows our Albany business to compete more effectively in a highly competitive local bread market, while bringing our product closer to consumers, ensuring accessibility and freshness,” said Quinton Swart, MD Bakeries at Tiger Brands.
“But in addition to expanding our route-to-market, it’s making a contribution to our country’s unemployment rate, which has risen considerably over the past decade. The programme demonstrates how commercial growth and social impact can work together.”
The initiative comes against the backdrop of significant unemployment among young South Africans.
According to Statistics South Africa’s Quarterly Labour Force Survey released in August 2026, close to five million young people between the ages of 15 and 34 are economically inactive. The unemployment rate among this group increased from 45.8% in the previous quarter to 47.4%.
The BOTS model gives participating entrepreneurs a ready-made platform from which to generate an income.
Tiger Brands provides each entrepreneur with a branded Albany bread stand valued at approximately R2,700, together with marketing materials.
Bread is then delivered directly to vendors through Albany’s distribution network, providing a consistent supply of fresh stock.
An entrepreneur typically sells between 20 and 30 loaves each day and makes approximately R2 profit per loaf. According to Tiger Brands, someone operating a stand daily could generate around R1,300 in monthly income.
Entrepreneurs are recruited through referrals from existing customers and community networks, extending the programme to people seeking opportunities to generate an income.
The next phase will see the network grow from more than 800 stands to a targeted 3,000 within the next year.
If achieved, the expansion will create at least 3,000 entrepreneurial opportunities while simultaneously increasing Albany’s presence in communities and bringing its products closer to consumers.
“BOTS shows that growing our business and creating opportunities for others do not have to be separate ambitions,” Swart said.
“As we expand the network, more people will have the opportunity to earn, learn and build greater economic independence, while becoming part of Albany’s growth story.”
