During a recent on-site visit, R & D / technical manager Antony Macfarlane shared insights into the company’ s commitment to local production, innovation and its role in the broader retail infrastructure across South Africa and beyond. Walking through the production floor, it ' s immediately evident that Concord prioritises in-house manufacturing. The factory decoys coil steel and fabricates the bulk of components internally. From pre-assembly, foaming and final cabinet assembly, to fully simulating supermarket line-ups, each product is handled from start to finish on site.
“ We do everything in-house. We build robust, African-tough cabinets that are engineered to withstand harsh environments and heavy use in the local retail space. Our customers keep coming back because our cabinets last – simple as that,” said Macfarlane.
While some critical components, such as plastic doors and compressor units, are imported from the Netherlands, Poland, Turkey and China, Macfarlane stressed that the company sources locally wherever possible.“ We only import what cannot be manufactured here,” he added.
EMPOWERING PEOPLE THROUGH JOBS AND TRAINING
During peak season, Concord employs around 220 people, with an average workforce of 152 to 180. The factory is not just a manufacturing site, but also a learning hub. The company offers structured apprenticeship and training programmes covering a wide range of disciplines, including sheet metal work, refrigeration, electrics, welding and thermodynamics.
“ We’ re proud of the exposure we provide. Our factory is a great environment for learning the full spectrum of engineering skills,” said Macfarlane. Ongoing upskilling is also key to the company’ s operations. Staff regularly attend external training courses through institutions like SEIFSA, and
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suppliers provide specialised training on new equipment and technologies.
Energy efficiency has become a major innovation driver for the business.“ It’ s our biggest focus. Cabinets are continually redesigned to lower energy consumption, with new technologies such as brushless DC fans and energy-efficient compressors drastically cutting usage.”
At the time of the visit, a multi-deck cabinet model previously running at 2.2kW had been reduced to just 800W.“ That kind of saving is massive not only for the retailer, but for the environment,” he said.
The factory itself reflects this ethos. With 112 solar panels powering the manufacturing side and LED lighting installed throughout, Concord has made substantial investments to reduce its operational footprint.
QUALITY, STANDARDS AND GLOBAL REACH
Quality assurance at Concord is rigorous. Each unit undergoes electrical and quality testing, with photographic documentation from production through to delivery. The company is ISO 9000 accredited and builds to international standards such as ISO 23953 – although, as Macfarlane noted, South Africa currently lacks formal SANS standards for refrigeration cabinets.
Despite this, the factory’ s testing and quality protocols align with global benchmarks.“ If we had to certify locally, we’ d still have to send units abroad – to the UK or Spain – due to the absence of local test facilities,” he said.
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A forklift at work.
The Salvagnini P4 amazes with its configuration potential and performance.
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All images supplied by Concord Retail Solutions |
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Walking through the production floor, it ' s immediately evident that Concord prioritises in-house manufacturing. |
A fully simulated supermarket line-up. |