Download Media Release For immediate release Wilmar Continental joint

Media Release
For immediate release
Wilmar Continental joint venture promises a brighter future for the African oil industry
Two world-class producers of culinary oils, the owners of Southern Africa’s best known culinary oil brands,
Continental Oil Mills (Pty) Limited, and Asia’s leading agribusiness group, Wilmar International Limited,
announced their joint venture to form Wilmar Continental Edible Oils and Fats (Pty) Limited.
At the launch event held at Moyo’s at Zoo Lake in Johannesburg on 29 September, the fusion of two
different cultures and continents was showcased, reflecting the promising partnership that lay ahead for
these agribusiness leaders.
Continental Oil Mills (Pty) Limited is well known for household brands such as Excella, Pan, Conti Canola oil,
Cardin oil, Conti Mayonnaise and Conti dips. In addition to its consumer brands, Continental also
manufactures and markets a wide range of bulk products for the catering and hospitality industries.
Continental Oil Mills (Pty) Limited shareholders are part of the pioneers of the first family-owned oil
manufacturing business in South Africa who have been in the oil business since 1968. Mr. Abdul Kader
Moosa, CEO of Continental Oils, his three sons, Managing Director Mohammad Ferouze, Operations
Director, Fayyaz and Sales and Marketing Director, Asif have always played an integral part of the business.
Mohammed, Fayyaz and Asif have been handling operations, manufacturing and sales and marketing
respectively over the past two decades. The Moosa family pride themselves with having a century of
experience in the oil industry.
The Moosa family has been frontrunners in the development of the oil industry for decades; and their
determination to remain industry leaders has seen them maintaining their manufacturing plants with the
latest available food processing and oil expressing technology.
In 2008 they commissioned a new crusher in Randfontein, expanding their crushing facilities to meet
growing opportunities in the local market and to boost local agriculture on the back of an increasing world
demand. The Randfontein and Viljoenskroon plants now have a crushing capacity of 36 000 metric tons per
month and within the next six months the capacity will be increased to a collective crushing capacity of 42
000 metric tons. In addition, their refinery has a 15 000 ton refining capacity monthly.
These two plants have remained at the forefront of technology with their modern trends and are highly
rated in the Southern Hemisphere. Continental brands hold a leading share of the sunflower and blended
edible oils market, in both retail and wholesale trade in South Africa.
Although the category is heavily driven by pricing considerations, Continental brands continue to command
a premium because of their excellent quality and value propositions.
2/....
-2Continental Oils’ new partner, Wilmar International Limited, is Asia’s leading agribusiness group and ranked
amongst the largest listed companies by the market capitalisation on the Singapore Exchange.
Wilmar was founded in 1991 by Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Kuok Khoon Hong, and Executive
Director and Chief Operating Officer, Mr. Martua Sitorus, and is ranked as the number one global oils
refiner and consumer pack oils manufacturer in the world.
Wilmar’s business activities include oil palm cultivation, oilseed crushing, edible oils refining, sugar,
specialty fats, oleochemicals and biodiesel manufacturing and grains processing. With its headquarters in
Singapore, Wilmar has over 300 manufacturing plants and an extensive distribution network covering
China, India, Indonesia and some 50 other countries to support a well established processing and
merchandising business. The group is backed by a multi-national staff force of about 88 000 people.
Jointly, the newly formed Wilmar Continental partnership is the next step for both the oil industry and the
Moosa Family, from a growth and development perspective.
The Wilmar Continental joint venture will not only see further growth for the company in the South African
market, but with reputable operations in Zimbabwe and Botswana already, it will also see an increased
footprint across the African continent, as it establishes operations in additional Africa markets within the
coming years.
With Wilmar Continental culinary cooking oil products already stocked in major local retailers like Shoprite,
Pick ‘n Pay, Spar and Massmart - where the upcoming Walmart investment in Southern Africa signifies
added benefits for the Wilmar Continental merger – this partnership promises further opportunity for
extensive distribution and expansion into African.
At the launch function, Wilmar Continental also revealed three new product labels for Excella Sunflower
Oil, Excella Canola Oil and S’Lite, and consumers can certainly look forward to an increased value
proposition with the two partners joining the best of their expertise in product development.
In addition to the retail sector, Wilmar Continental will continue to support the ever-growing relationships
with independent retailers, wholesalers, informal traders and exporters.
The Moosa family has always prided itself in forming lasting partnerships, by developing business
relationships and lasting friendships from their suppliers, through to their consumer customers that spans
both local and international sectors. This is an ethos of the family business that the Moosa family sees
continuing even as they merge with Wilmar International Limited to form Wilmar Continental and a
partnership that promises a brighter future for the African oil industry.
Issued on behalf of Wilmar Continental by:
Yolanda Arendse
Cell: +27 83 440 2031 or Email: [email protected]
For further information contact:
Sylvaine Reddy
Wilmar Continental - Marketing Manager
Cell: +27 82 888 9422 or [email protected]
A.K. Moosa Family
M.C. Jeannie D
Mr Mohammad Ferouze Moosa
Mr Teo Kim Yong
Sylvainne Reddy, Fatima Alimohamed, Mr Teo Kim Yong and Jeannie D