South Africa’s finest canned produce is about to shine on the world stage. The South African Fruit and Vegetable Canners Export Council (SAFVCEC) is heading to the Anuga International Food and Beverage Trade Fair in Cologne, Germany, from 4-8 October 2025. Here our canned produce will be showcased to the world.
On a mission to expand South Africa’s canned fruit and vegetable exports, SAFVCEC will engage with existing buyers while forging new trade links across global markets. General Manager Jill Atwood-Palm will lead the delegation as part of a strong South African presence at the event.
The Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (dtic) will host a national pavilion, where 30 local agro-processing companies will exhibit their products. With thousands of international importers expected at Anuga, the world’s largest food and beverage trade show, the platform offers unparalleled opportunities for business matchmaking.
“At Anuga, we will present South Africa’s canned fruit and vegetable industry as a global leader in quality and food safety,” says Atwood-Palm. “Our products are manufactured under world-class standards, while the natural attributes of our raw materials, flavour, colour, texture and quality, set us apart.”
Beyond marketing, the fair also provides a valuable platform to benchmark against competitors, monitor consumer trends and assess global supply-demand conditions.
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A Diverse Industry with Impressive Global Reach
SAFVCEC’s members produce a wide range of processed goods, from canned fruits and vegetables to pulps, purees, juice concentrates, jams, jellies, spreads, pickles, infant foods, sauces and condiments. These are packaged in diverse formats including cans, jars, pouches, cartons and drums. Notably, over 85% of processed fruit output is exported.
In 2024, the industry exported R15.5 billion worth of products to more than 125 countries across 50 product lines. Europe accounts for about 34% (R5.3bn) of these exports, with the Netherlands as the biggest single market and Germany ranking sixth.
Formed in 2005, SAFVCEC represents the processed fruit and vegetable industry nationally. It drives market access, trade advocacy, competitiveness, transformation and marketing initiatives to sustain growth in exports.
“The South African industry has maintained a strong international presence for more than 60 years,” notes Atwood-Palm. “Our exporters have deep experience of global markets and consumer needs. We are proud to fly the South African flag at Anuga 2025.”
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