After 11 years as chief executive officer (CEO) of Afgri Group Holdings, Chris Venter will be stepping down from the role.
In a statement, the Group credited Venter with the successful establishment of strategic pillars of the firm’s operations — agriculture, food, financial services, and corporate social investment.
Key among Venter’s achievements was the development of support and training for new farmers, both in South Africa and across southern Africa, according to AGH. He also strengthened the Group’s capital structure by divesting several non-core businesses, and in 2019, he was instrumental in establishing a strategic infrastructure platform (Afgri Silo Company).
Venter also played a key role in re-shaping the Group around a vision to drive food security in the region through a focus on the grain value chain, according to Michael Wilkerson, Chairman of the Board of Directors.
Taking over as acting CEO of AGH will be Tinus Prinsloo. He joined the Group in 2006, and served as CEO of Afgri Operations until being appointed as CEO of Afgr Silo Company last year.
Appointed as the new chief operating officer (COO) is Johan Geel. He returns to the group after a period as Group Financial Director for agricultural company, GWK Limited.
Founded in 1923, Afgri Agri Services is a privately owned company providing services across the grain production and storage cycle, according to the group’s web site. Its four main business areas are Agri Services (grain management & storage, and equipment), Financial Services, Retail (Hinterland), and Farmer Training & Development. Under the latter umbrella is Lemang Agricultural Services, which was founded in 2012 to provide training to develop stronger future farmers.
The company’s vision is to unlock agricultural potential, not only in South Africa but across the African continent.
Afgri Silo Company improves region’s food security
Together with Rand Merchant Bank (RMB), Afgri South Africa formed a group of investors to create a new silo investment unit in 2019. BizNews reported that the bold new deal had been created to acquire 100% of Afgri’s South African portfolio of owned grain silo and bunker facilities. These represented 25% of the country’s grain storage capacity.
The resulting Afgri Grain Silo Company was expected to increase the unit’s capacity for storage significantly, while also boosting food security in the region.
Afgri’s former poultry interests
Previously, AGH operated a poultry business, but this was divested in 2015 as the firm focused on its core interests. Afgri Poultry and Afgri’s Kinross Animal Feeds Mill were sold to the AFPO Consortium Proprietary Limited, a Black Economic Empowerment consortium led by Matome Maponya Investments.
Afgri’s former poultry business — renamed Daybreak Farms — continues to produce poultry meat through an integrated chain .
Based in Centurion in Gauteng province, Daybreak Farms sells to large retailers and fast-food chains, as well as through a chain of retail shops. With breeders, a hatchery, feed mill, and two slaughterhouses, the business is fully integrated. The firm’s own hatchery produces up to 1.5 million day-old chicks per week, and up to a further 300,000 chicks are supplied weekly by contract farmers and independent breeders.
