Soufflet Malt, a subsidiary of the French cooperative group InVivo, has partnered with Heineken to establish a new malting facility in South Africa. The company will invest EUR 100 million (USD 108.51 million) in the project, which will be built adjacent to Heineken's Sedibeng Brewery near Johannesburg. The plant is expected to be operational by mid-2027.
Currently, Heineken imports all of its barley for its South African operations. The new facility will change this by sourcing 100% of its barley locally from commercial and small-scale South African farmers, helping to shorten the supply chain. "This partnership means replacing 4,500 containers of barley coming from abroad for local barley," said Jordi Borrut, Managing Director of Heineken Beverages, at the signing event.
The plant will have an annual production capacity of nearly 100,000 tons of malt and is expected to create 55 full-time jobs while supporting over 200 local barley growers. It will also be the most technologically advanced malting facility in the country, using trigeneration and solar energy to cut emissions by 50% compared to industry standards. Its proximity to Heineken's brewery will allow malt to be transferred via conveyors, further reducing emissions and costs.
Jeremy Antier, Managing Director of Soufflet South Africa, emphasized the company’s dedication to supporting local farmers through training, mentoring, and agronomic best practices to ensure premium barley production. Soufflet Malt has been active in the region for several years, strengthening its collaboration with both commercial and developing farmers.
The partnership also aligns with Heineken’s merger commitments following its acquisition of Distell, aiming to increase local sourcing and boost domestic production. Guillaume Couture, President of Soufflet Malt's Europe, Middle East, and Africa division, highlighted the strategic importance of the deal, stating that it would contribute to the long-term prosperity of South Africa.
Beyond South Africa, Soufflet Malt and Heineken are working on similar projects in Brazil and India. Thierry Blandinières, CEO of InVivo, confirmed the company's ambition to expand further in emerging markets and strengthen its global leadership in the malt industry.
