Massmart has announced the 250 potential suppliers who have been selected to attend and present their products to the Group’s buyers at its Inaugural Growth Summit, which will be held on 2 April 2025. Participants include over 200 South African companies, with the remainder representing 11 other African countries.
Commenting on the summit and the wide range of participants, Herman Venter, Massmart’s Chief Merchandise Officer said, “Our objective for the event is to expand and strengthen our Africa-based supplier network to our Makro, Game, Builders and Cash & Carry stores on the view that geographically localised supply is cost-effective, reliable and offers better opportunities to drive product innovation.”
The participants will now receive access to a series of online orientation modules that will help them prepare to successfully pitch their products to Massmart buyers at the summit. Venter explains that participants will have 30 minutes to pitch their products to Massmart buyers on the day of the summit. The pitches will take place in 30 pitch rooms erected at the venue to ensure privacy and confidentiality, with each supplier being designated a specific slot on a pitch schedule that starts at 10:30 and ends at 16:45.
In addition to the opportunity to pitch their products directly to Massmart’s buyers, participants will be able to attend Master Classes covering opportunities for growth by participating on Massmart’s online platform or becoming a private brand supplier, while the Department of Trade Industry and Competition (the dtic) will present a Master Class covering export opportunities available to local suppliers. The Master Class programme will be supplemented by networking sessions enabling suppliers to connect with Massmart and Walmart Executives and representatives from the dtic. Venter also commended the dtic, for their support leading up to this symbolic event.
The Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, Mr Parks Tau, welcomes the selection of 250 suppliers from across Africa for Massmart’s inaugural Growth Summit. He highlights the summit as a key platform for linking African suppliers with a major retail group, thereby also advancing South Africa and the African Continent’s industrialisation and trade agenda.
“The Massmart Growth Summit is a significant step towards deepening Africa’s industrial capacity and expanding market access for locally and regionally manufactured goods. As the South African government, we are committed to fostering an environment where businesses, especially SMMEs and emerging manufacturers, can thrive, create jobs, and contribute meaningfully to the economy. This initiative aligns with our strategic objectives of driving local production, boosting exports, and ensuring inclusive economic participation across the continent,” says Tau.
He further emphasises the importance of strengthening collaboration between government and the private sector to accelerate industrial development, support supply chain localisation, and unlocking opportunities for African suppliers to scale their operations.
“This commendable initiative by Massmart highlights the potential of leveraging regional supply chains to drive economic transformation. By facilitating direct engagement between local suppliers and major retailers, we are not only creating pathways for growth but also reinforcing South Africa’s position as a key participant in regional and global trade,” he adds.
