South African population growth will increase consumption of snacks, confectionery, French fries

14-Mar-2019 - Last updated on 14-Mar-2019 at 09:55 GMT

South Africa to see rise in snacks & French fries. Photo: tna Twitter.

tna is tapping into South Africa’s flourishing snacks and confectionery sectors hiring Matthew Walters as branch manager to head up its African operations in Johannesburg.

Walters will be responsible for tna's fryers, conveyors, seasoning equipment, VFFS packaging systems and end of line technology.

Starch molding

He will also be driving sales of the company’s starch molding and finishing equipment.

According to Global Data: the South African savory snacks sector is expected to grow from $1.13bn in 2017 to $1.35bn by 2022, at a CAGR of 7.1%.

In volume terms, the sector is expected to grow from 157.8m kg in 2017 to 184.9m kg by 2022, registering a CAGR of 3.2% with the potato chips category forecast to grow from 38.1% in 2017 to 40.1% in 2022.

The sugar confectionery category is expected to reach $642.5m by 2023, growing at a CAGR of 7.4% during 2018–2023.

With a value of $157m in 2018, gums and jellies is the largest segment in the South African sugar confectionery category.

“The South African population is expected to grow from 57.7 million in 2018 to 62.3 million by 2023,” said Walters.

Middle Class consumers

“The middle class is expected to increase its share over the next few years, which will naturally lead to an increase in the consumption of snacks, confectionery and French fries.

“The trend towards smaller packaging sizes means manufacturers need quicker throughput rates. But it’s not just about speed. There is a gap in the market when it comes to companies that take a more holistic view and are able to provide equipment and more take responsibility for the entire production line."

With a degree in mechanical engineering, Walters started his career at one of South Africa’s leading FMCG companies, where he was responsible for the implementation of a number of high profile projects.

“Matthew will be an excellent addition to the team here in South Africa,” added Jonathan Rankin, CEO, tna.

“His experience in the food industry, business acumen and positive attitude are a great fit for tna. Together with his project engineering skills, he’ll be able to ensure a smooth installation and successful project delivery, no matter how complex or challenging."