By Alicia Mmashakana
Western Cape Premier Alan Winde has welcomed the agreement that will safeguard thousands of jobs at the Langeberg and Ashton Foods (LAF) cannery in the Boland.
Winde confirmed that more than 3,000 permanent and seasonal jobs will be saved after Tiger Brands finalised a deal to sell the business to NewCo, a newly formed entity with vested interests in its partners, employees, and the local community.
Tiger Brands, listed on the JSE, sold the LAF business as a going concern to NewCo for a nominal cash consideration of R1.
The move forms part of the company’s strategic decision, announced in May 2020, to exit its deciduous canned fruit business and realign its portfolio with the Group’s long-term vision.
“This business is vital to the regional economy, supporting over 3,000 workers. The agreement will bring much-needed relief to employees, their families, the Ashton community, and the broader Langeberg region,” said Winde.
“Our priority has always been job protection. In addition to preserving jobs at LAF, the deal also secures many more across farms in the Langeberg area.”
Tiger Brands CEO Tjaart Kruger said: “We are pleased to announce this sale after an extensive five-year search for a viable buyer. LAF, an iconic business founded in 1940, remains central to the economic heartbeat of the Langeberg area.”
The announcement coincides with the release of the latest Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS), which confirms that the Western Cape continues to have the highest employment rate in the country.
Western Cape Minister of Agriculture, Economic Development and Tourism, Dr Ivan Meyer, welcomed the development, saying: “This is excellent news for the Langeberg community and the deciduous fruit industry. Our Growth for Jobs strategy prioritises safeguarding and expanding exports, and protecting the agri-processing sub-sector is essential to that mission.”
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