Agrimark has recognised exceptional supplier partnerships at its seventh annual Supplier of the Year Awards, hosted at Lourensford Wine Estate in Somerset West, with PPC Cement Sales and Zibo Containers claiming top honours as overall channel winners.

The agri-retail arm of JSE-listed KAL Group announced 39 winners across 41 categories, reflecting the company’s evolution into a fully-integrated business serving agricultural, fuel and retail markets across more than 70 branches nationwide.

Strategic partnership focus

Agrimark MD Arno Abeln emphasised the awards’ growing significance as the business diversifies. “As Agrimark continues to evolve into a fully integrated agri-retail business, the awards have grown in both scale and relevance, reflecting the expanding role of suppliers across multiple channels and customer touchpoints.”

The 2025 awards recognised supplier performance across Agrimark’s increasingly diversified operations, including digital transformation initiatives during the financial year.

Channel winners announced

PPC Cement Sales secured Retail Channel Supplier of the Year, while Zibo Containers claimed the Agri Channel category. Both companies were recognised for consistency, innovation and commitment to delivering value across Agrimark’s national footprint.

Representatives from both winning companies described the recognition as significant, noting the adaptability and resilience required in recent years, with Agrimark consistently working collaboratively to find solutions and explore new approaches.

Leadership perspective

KAL Group CEO Johann le Roux highlighted relationship importance in the complex operating environment. “As a diversified business operating across agricultural, retail, fuel and related markets, we are transforming alongside the industries we serve,” he said. “We are a big player in the sectors in which we operate, but our scale only matters if it is matched by strong, trusted relationships.”

Value chain partnership

Abeln positioned suppliers as strategic value chain partners rather than traditional vendors. “They enable us to execute on our strategy and drive sustained market share growth. Their ability to support us with consistency, innovation and responsiveness is fundamental to how we compete and grow.”

Supplier excellence standards

Hennie Smit, Agrimark Director of Supply Chain, praised the overall winners’ reliability. “These are suppliers who we can phone anytime, day or night,” he said. “They are real solutions partners. Ethics and integrity are the cornerstone of our supplier relationships, and these awards recognise partners who help us deliver real value and drive growth through ethical business standards.”

Future growth strategy

Looking towards the company’s F30 strategic ambitions, Abeln expressed confidence in continued supplier partnerships. “F25 was a year of solid delivery for Agrimark, supported by an exceptional supplier base,” he said. “As we continue to work towards our F30 ambitions, including sustained market share growth, these partnerships will remain central to our success.”

With more than 270 operating points across South Africa and Namibia, KAL Group and Agrimark serve customers ranging from large-scale commercial producers to everyday households. The awards reinforce Agrimark’s commitment to collaborative, future-focused supplier relationships that enable meeting changing customer needs while unlocking shared value.