Opportunities in strengthening local supply chains , especially within food processing and agribusiness , will be the main focus for Bühler Southern Africa in 2025 .
NEWS
INCORPORATING COLD CHAIN
Growing demand for staple foods in Africa drives Bühler ’ s growth
Opportunities in strengthening local supply chains , especially within food processing and agribusiness , will be the main focus for Bühler Southern Africa in 2025 .
MD Marco Sutter explains : “ The African market remains pivotal , with ongoing growth in the staple foods like maize as well as rice and pulses , driven by increasing demand for locally produced , high-quality food products .”
The African market is essential to Bühler ’ s growth strategy . With a young and rapidly growing population , the continent offers immense opportunities to build resilient food systems and manufacturing hubs . “ Our focus is on delivering tailored solutions that address local challenges while enabling scalability and sustainability . This market not only drives our business growth but also aligns with our mission to feed the world sustainably ,” says Sutter .
In 2025 , it plans to enhance its green supply chain initiatives by localising more manufacturing processes , thereby reducing transportation-related emissions . “ Aligned with our sustainability goals , we aim to reduce energy , water , and waste in our customers ' value chains by 50 % by 2025 and decrease greenhouse gas emissions in our own operations by 60 % by 2030 ,” says Sutter .
Last year was a challenging year , shaped by various external factors . Elections across many African countries brought a degree of uncertainty , while rising steel prices , increased transport costs and limited access to foreign exchange in several regions posed significant hurdles . “ Despite these challenges , Bühler remains focused on innovation and customer-centric solutions ,” he adds .
The food and beverage sector saw steady demand , particularly in the staple foods markets and grain storage , as the need for efficient and sustainable food systems continues to grow . The mining sector performed robustly , driven by demand for material handling solutions and an increasing focus on energyefficient technologies .
Bühler also embarked on various
Bühler Southern Africa MD Marco Sutter .
upgrades last year , says Francois Knoetze , head of manufacturing . These included installing First in First Out ( FIFO ) racking to improve stock utilisation , new compressors to ensure better energy efficiency of air production and newer welding machines . Knoetze points out that the main benefits for Bühler ’ s clients and growth potential following the upgrades is increased throughput driving shorter lead times .
By continuing to spend up to 5 % of turnover on research and development a year , Bühler ’ s mission is to develop innovative technologies , machines and services for the food , feed agriculture and mobility industry . This differentiates it in the market through high performance , productivity , reliability , and improved sustainability . CLA
We aim to reduce energy , water , and waste in our customers ' value chains by 50 % by 2025 .
Image supplied by Bühler Southern Africa
8 www . coldlinkafrica . co . za COLD LINK AFRICA • March / April 2025