Through its Supplier Development Programme, SPAR South Africa continues to support local producers who are developing innovative ways to offer their produce to customers and grow their business and capabilities.

SPAR South Africa is helping bring locally grown, climate-smart produce closer to consumers through its support of Western Cape agri-tech start-up Arable Grow. The business is passionate about producing nutritious microgreens while embracing sustainable growing practices and supporting local food production. Arable Grow uses hydroponic technology inside climate-controlled shipping containers to grow fresh, nutrient-dense crops near urban communities, reducing water use, transport distances, and waste. Produce is harvested and delivered within hours, preserving freshness, flavour, and nutritional value. 

Through SPAR South Africa’s Supplier Development Programme, Arable Grow gained practical guidance to strengthen its operations and achieve Good Agricultural Practice certification. The partnership also provided the credibility and market access needed to enter formal retail, helping the start-up move from innovation to commercial supply. 

Access to market

For many entrepreneurs, developing breakthrough technology is only part of the journey. Gaining market access, achieving rigorous food safety standards, and building retailer confidence can often prove even more difficult than developing the product itself. That is where SPAR South Africa can become an important partner in providing the expertise and resources needed to develop such innovations. 

For SPAR South Africa, supplier development is about more than creating new suppliers. It is about investing in South African entrepreneurs who are developing innovative solutions that strengthen local industries, create jobs and deliver long-term value for communities. 

Local entrepreneur support 

As Arable Grow’s first retail partner, SPAR South Africa recognised the potential of a locally developed solution that supports entrepreneurship, strengthens local supply chains, and contributes to food security. Today, the grower supplies retailers trading under the SPAR brand in the Western Cape, giving consumers convenient access to fresh produce grown close to where they live. 

Through such initiatives, SPAR South Africa offers consumers access to innovative, locally grown products, combining convenience with freshness and quality, inherent to the SPAR brand ethos. The initiative demonstrates how retailer support helps emerging suppliers scale, while offering communities more choices at their local SPAR store.

Source: SPAR South Africa

Read more about SPAR South Africa.

About SPAR South Africa

SPAR South Africa was established in 1963 when a licence was granted by SPAR International to a local business. Today, the license holder is listed on the Johannesburg stock exchange and operates different retail organisations as well as a robust distribution network. Grocery stores fall into four retail formats: SPAR neighbourhood, SPAR Express (operated as petrol forecourt stores), KWIKSPAR (focusing on convenience in city centres and high footfall locations), and SUPERSPAR Supermarkets (similar to the EUROSPAR format in offer). SPAR South Africa grants sub-licences to independent retailers to operate SPAR branded stores across the country.