How Spar South Africa creates a regenerative supply system

Spar South Africa head of sustainability Mr James Lonsdale gave a presentation on Spar sustainability initiatives with the fresh produce secto during WUWM 2025 conference, organized in Johannesburg with Joburg Wholesale Market. He detailed the regenerative approach of the “Farmers Hub” program with small farmers, by empowering them to become certified and profitable supppliers. reminds that Spar Group is the largest independent food retail group in the world, operating in 48 countries with 14,000 outlets.

Upgrade small farmers to get certified and profitable

Spar sustainable initiative started in 2016 with the purpose to support small-scale farmers with various challenges: food safety compliance, access to smart farming technologies or simply internet, funding, adequate infrastructure, lately ability to cope with climate change and access to markets. Spar “Hub model” of supplier development is based on technical support, with its own team of technical support (5 agronomists); finance input (inclusive wages in some cases, which are paid back with the products they supply), packing facility created, market and price guarantee. First class products are marketed under “Spar” Label, premium products under “Freshline”. Spar uses customised localg.a.p. capacity building programme since 2018 to help small farmers progress through the 3 levels of food safety programme withing a 4 years time. All the 12 farmers involved in Spar Hub finally reached GLOBALG.A.P. and are able to supply other retailers. The program received several domestic and international awards for its achievements.

Scale up to 60 farmers and 1000ha by 2030 

“Our 5 years objective with the “Hub” program is to integrate over 60 farmers and reach 1000ha production of vegetables within 5 years, integrate new crops like potatoes, from 12 farmers and 140ha today” said James Lonsdale during the conference. SPAR Rural Hub received the “Changemaker Award” in the retailer category at the GLOBALG.A.P Summit 2024 in Warsaw. This award recognized the hub’s impact on improving the farming industry in South Africa. James Lonsdale confirmed at the event the company’s goal to boost the number of participating farmers and enlarge the cultivated area from the current 140 hectares while expanding it into South Africa’s other provinces.  

For more information on Spar South Africa, you can write here.