The new Eskort retail store at Fourways Crossing, Lone Hill, Sandton will open on Thursday 21 May while the Rembrandt Mall, Lemoenkloof, Paarl branch will a week later.
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South African food producer Eskort is expanding its retail footprint with two new stores in Johannesburg and Paarl, extending what the company describes as its “Invisible Food Network”, a fully integrated system connecting farms, factories, logistics, retail operations and communities across the country.
The new stores at Fourways Crossing in Johannesburg and Rembrandt Mall in Paarl form part of Eskort’s strategy to bring its full range of products closer to consumers while strengthening local economic participation and job creation.
Although many South Africans interact with Eskort primarily through its more than 30 retail outlets and supermarket offerings, the company said the operations behind the scenes span an extensive national network built over 109 years.
According to Eskort CEO Arnold Prinsloo, the company’s operations extend far beyond traditional retail.
“Most South Africans know Eskort through our products and our retail stores,” Prinsloo said. “What they don’t always see is the extraordinary network and the thousands of people operating behind the scenes.”
He said the company’s operations integrate farming, manufacturing, logistics and retail into a single supply chain focused on delivering export-quality, antibiotic-free pork products to consumers across South Africa.
The network begins on Eskort’s farms, where strict biosecurity systems, traceability standards and animal care protocols are implemented to ensure quality and food safety throughout the production process.
From there, products move through Eskort’s high-tech production facilities in Heidelberg, Gauteng, and Estcourt, KwaZulu-Natal. The Heidelberg facility was recently expanded by 10 000 square metres, increasing production capacity by 50%.
Eskort says the factories incorporate advanced robotic systems and large-scale cold storage technology designed to maintain product freshness and operational efficiency. The company also operates Africa’s largest continuous box freezer, capable of freezing 120 000 kilograms of product every 24 hours at temperatures of minus 20 degrees Celsius.
Prinsloo said every new Eskort store represents more than just retail expansion.
“A new Eskort retail store is never just a retail space,” he said. “It is where our network meets the community.”
The company’s retail outlets are also the only locations where customers can access Eskort’s full range of more than 300 products. While selected products are available through supermarkets and retail partners nationwide, Eskort stores offer the broader portfolio, including fresh pork cuts, ribs, pork belly, pulled pork, bacon, sausages, polonies, viennas and convenience meals.
Beyond production and retail, Eskort says sustainability and responsible resource management form part of its long-term strategy. The company repurposes by-products wherever possible in an effort to minimise waste across its operations.
The expansion also comes at a time when economic growth and employment remain major priorities in South Africa. Eskort says each new store creates local employment opportunities and strengthens economic activity within surrounding communities.
In addition to direct employment, the company continues to invest in social development initiatives through programmes such as Feed the Future, which supports schools, families and local communities in areas where Eskort operates.
Prinsloo said the company’s “Invisible Food Network” dates back to the establishment of the original cooperative by nine farmers in Estcourt more than a century ago.
“What is new is our intention to show the full scale of what this company does and what it stands for,” he said.
“We want South Africans to see the scale of the network behind the brand they know — a network that feeds families, supports communities, creates jobs and continues expanding for South Africa.”
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