PROUDLY SOUTH AFRICAN UPDATE

Several more retailers sign "Buy Local" agreement, including Mr Price

Mr Price, Keedo International, and three niche South African retailers, namely Naartjie Clothing, Uzzi Stores and Sportsmans Warehouse are the most recent signatories to the landmark 'buy local' agreement. This happened when the holding companies of these brands, Naartjie Clothing, Uzzi Clothing Cape and Moresport Holdings (owners of Sportsmans Warehouse, Outdoor Warehouse and Sportshoe World) signed the 'buy local' Declaration in respect of clothing products, reached between the Southern African Clothing and Textile Workers' Union (SACTWU) and leading retailers.

The agreement binds signatories to increasing their local sourcing, to only source from manufacturing companies, which comply with minimum legal conditions of employment and to include a label on all garments that will indicate the country in which the garments were manufactured.

The addition of these brands now brings the number of retail brands that have signed on to the Declaration to 48.

Union General Secretary, Mr Ebrahim Patel, welcomed the three latest signatories. "We will work with the new signatories to find ways of popularising local products, and increasing the level of local sourcing. The combined effect of all retailers buying from local manufacturers can create tens of thousands of new jobs", said Mr Patel.

"The agreement is now the broadest and most representative socio-economic agreement reached between trade union and the retail sector, "Mr Patel said.

Proudly South African helping fruit exporters

The Proudly South African logo will be carried on about 8 million pieces of fruit and 700 000 1kg bags in the forthcoming Deciduous Fruit Golden Delicious UK Export Promotion being organised by the Fresh Produce Exporters Forum. Eight members of the Forum will be taking part in the promotion, which will be run in well-known UK retailers such as Safeway, Sainsbury, Somerfield, Tesco and Waitrose.

Proudly South African member Shoprite Checkers own 227 pantechnicons which travel the length and breadth of South Africa all year round. As these come up to be re-signed, some of them will be painted with these Proudly South African messages, which they will carry for the next 2 years! If Proudly South African had to be paying for such exposure, it could easily run to R2 million, but Shoprite Checkers sees this free publicity as part of its contribution to creating jobs.