Public–private partnerships open export pathways for Cape Town’s food and beverage SMMEs
Cape Town’s food and beverage sector took an important step towards expanding export opportunities for small businesses at the end of 2025, through a collaborative initiative led by the City of Cape Town in partnership with the Economic Development Partnership (EDP) and industry stakeholders.
The Food and Beverage Growth Coalition hosted a site visit to DHL’s Express facility at Cape Town International Airport. The engagement brought together representatives from the City of Cape Town’s Economic Development and Investment Department, Wesgro, the Western Cape Government Department of Economic Development and Tourism, and private sector partners, including DHL.
The visit focused on strengthening export readiness and market access for small, medium and micro-enterprises (SMMEs) in the food and beverage sector. Participants gained practical insight into how global logistics infrastructure, digital tools and targeted support programmes can help local producers reach international markets. During the engagement, participants were made aware of DHL’s GoTrade Programme that supports SMMEs to overcome barriers to cross-border trade.
Discussions explored how closer collaboration between government, industry and logistics providers can reduce friction for exporters and improve alignment between public support mechanisms and private sector capabilities.
According to the EDP, the engagement reflects a broader shift towards more targeted, problem-solving partnerships within the sector. “By creating spaces where government, industry and service providers can engage directly, we can better identify where systems are blocking growth and where collaboration can unlock it,” noted Margo le Roux, EDP project lead for the coalition.
The Food and Beverage Growth Coalition was established to foster collaboration between the City and industry, surface shared challenges and support the sector’s contribution to Cape Town’s economy. In 2026, the coalition plans to continue its stakeholder engagements and regular communication with members through quarterly newsletters that include sector updates.
The next coalition engagement, planned for March 2026, will focus on retailer access and buyer readiness, with particular attention on processes that affect SMMEs entering formal markets.
