Two new stores bring Eskort’s growing food network into the spotlight

Many South Africans experience Eskort through one of its 30-plus stores. What they do not always see is the fully integrated food network operating behind the scenes, connecting farms, production, logistics, retail and communities across South Africa.

Built over more than a century, Eskort’s network reflects the heritage of one of South Africa’s most established food brands, the expertise of an industry leader in pork and a commitment to world-class quality, innovation and operational excellence across its products and processes.

From strict biosecurity protocols and traceability standards on Eskort’s farms to advanced production systems, cold chain logistics and retail partnerships nationwide, every part of the network is designed to deliver consistent quality South Africans can trust.

Eskort calls this the Invisible Food Network. And this month, that network expands through new Eskort retail stores at Fourways Crossing in Johannesburg and Rembrandt Mall in Paarl.

With these two stores, Eskort is not simply expanding its footprint; it is extending a 109-year legacy into new regions and communities, bringing 300-plus products closer to more South Africans.

In doing so, it increases its contribution to local growth, employment and economic participation.

Because what looks like a straightforward store opening is, in reality, the expansion of a network that has been feeding the nation for generations – not only with proudly South African pork but with jobs and support for communities across the country.

Eskort’s extraordinary network

“Most South Africans know Eskort through our products and our retail stores,” says CEO, Arnold Prinsloo. “What they don’t always see is the extraordinary network and the thousands of people operating behind the scenes. Farms, factories, logistics, retail stores and communities are all connected, and they all work together to bring export-quality, antibiotic-free pork to South Africans every day.

“That quality begins on our farms, where stringent biosecurity measures, high animal care standards and full traceability systems help ensure product integrity at every stage. These systems reinforce Eskort’s commitment to quality, safety and consistency.

“It continues in our factories, where state-of-the-art production, technology and advanced robotic lines support world-class food safety and operational efficiency. Eskort is also home to Africa’s largest continuous box freezer, capable of freezing 120 000kg of product every 24 hours at -20 degrees Celsius. Together, these systems help maintain freshness, scale and consistent quality across the network,” he adds.

The Fourways Crossing store opens on 21 May, with the Paarl store following on 28 May.

Each is a new node in a network that stretches from the farms that supply Eskort’s high-tech factories in the small towns of Estcourt and Heidelberg through a national cold chain and into communities across South Africa.

Eskort’s production network includes two dedicated factories in Heidelberg (Gauteng) and Estcourt (KwaZulu-Natal). The Heidelberg facility recently expanded by 10 000m², increasing production capacity by 50%, while Eskort’s multi-level storage and staging systems are among the first of their kind in South Africa’s food industry.

“A new Eskort retail store is never just a retail space,” says Prinsloo. “It is where our network meets the community. “It is where 109 years of expertise in farming, food safety and production innovation becomes a place a family can walk into, and a place to discover trusted South African favourites for breakfast, lunch, dinner and every occasion in between.”

More than 300 products

While a limited selection of Eskort products is available through supermarkets and retail partners nationwide, the brand’s retail stores are the only places where consumers can access the full range of more than 300 products.

The range spans fresh and braai pork, including racks of ribs, pulled pork, pork belly and rump steaks, alongside convenience meals and staples such as bacon, sausages, polonies and viennas.

Beyond product innovation, Eskort’s network is designed around responsible production and sustainability. Byproducts are repurposed wherever possible, ensuring as little as possible goes to waste across the value chain.

In a climate where job creation and economic participation matter more than ever, Eskort’s expanding retail network represents sustained, community-level impact. Each new store hires locally, embedding Eskort in its neighbourhood from day one.

Eskort also continues to invest in community upliftment through initiatives such as Feed the Future, which support schools, families and local economic participation in the communities where it operates.

“The Invisible Food Network is not a new idea,” says Prinsloo. “It has existed since nine farmers met in Estcourt 109 years ago and established the co-operative that later became Eskort.

“What is new is our intention to show the full scale of what this company does and what it stands for. We want South Africans to see the scale of the network behind the brand they know: a network that feeds families, supports communities, creates jobs and continues expanding for South Africa.”