SA healthcare retailer Clicks Group has announced the launch of its SMME supplier listing platform, reaffirming its incubation support for SA black-owned businesses.
The launch forms part of a larger strategy the Group has undertaken to support SMMEs across the supply chain, says Clicks Group Corporate Affairs Director Bertina Engelbrecht.
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Allowing SMMEs access to the supply chain
The Clicks Group has invested over R500-million in SMME suppliers in the past year and is working closely with the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition to accelerate local procurement.
Clicks has invested over R500-million in SMME suppliers in the past year
The SMME trading platform offers business support in the form of marketing, promotions, shared shelf space and business mentorship. The company has shown long-term support for local SMMEs with particular recent support for multicultural hair care products.
“Since 2005 to date, we have grown local hair care brands on the shelf by over 743%, with a significant investment in black women-owned businesses,” Engelbrecht says.
“It has been extremely rewarding to see local brands such as AfroBotanics, AfriBerry and Portia M become established and enjoying success in the local market. Portia M has experienced rapid exponential growth to the extent that it can no longer be classified as an SMME,” explains Engelbrecht.
The Group intends to target over R4,5-billion worth of procurement spend with black-owned SMMEs over the next three years.
Since January, Clicks has helped to bring six new black-owned suppliers in the haircare and personal care sectors to market, including Masodi Organics’ range of natural hair and body products and AfroBotanics’ new multicultural hair range, Kaio. A further 12 suppliers are planned for launch by the end of 2021, over and above the eight black-owned SMMEs currently listed.
“The Clicks Group recognises that SMME development is critical in creating jobs and building a healthier economy,” Engelbrecht says. “We are committed to removing barriers and have worked hard to implement a SMME trading framework that will ease entry into the Clicks eco-system.”
For more information, go to www.clicks.co.za/supplier-development or e-mail NewBusiness@clicksgroup.co.za.
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Featured image: Relebohile Moeng, Executive Director of Afri-Berry (Supplied)
