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Soufflet Malt Breaks Ground On R2 Billion Malting Facility In South Africa
Soufflet Malt has officially broken ground on its R2 billion (€100 million) malting facility in Midvaal, Gauteng. This landmark investment follows the signing of a commercial partnership in December 2024 between Soufflet Malt and HEINEKEN Beverages to supply the malt for its South African brewing operations
Located adjacent to HEINEKEN Beverages’ Sedibeng Brewery near Johannesburg, the malthouse will have an annual production capacity of approximately 100,000 tonnes.
Beyond its scale, the investment represents a significant step in localising South Africa’s malt supply chain. Once fully operational in mid-2027, the facility will source 100% of its barley from South African growers.
Local economic impact
Construction of the facility by Abbeydale Projects is expected to continue through 2026, with commissioning planned for mid-2027. The malthouse is expected to create 55 permanent jobs, support hundreds of farmers, and generate between 200 and 300 indirect jobs across agriculture, logistics and related services.
Sustainability
The new facility will be the most technologically advanced malthouse in South Africa and will produce 50% fewer emissions than the industry average using trigeneration. Its location next to the brewery will enable malt to be transferred via conveyors, delivering lower-emissions operations and decreasing costs. This project reflects Soufflet Malt’s MALTiply 2030 strategy to pioneer sustainable malt solutions, leveraging by advanced technologies and low-carbon design.
“This project is a strong vote of confidence in South Africa’s agricultural sector and will strengthen South Africa’s brewing value chain,” said Jorge Solis, Chief Executive Officer of Soufflet Malt. “By investing in local industrial capacity and working closely with farmers, we are building a resilient, sustainable locally integrated malt supply chain that will support long-term agricultural and industrial development in the region”.
Farmer development and inclusive participation
The investment is underpinned by agronomy programmes supporting both commercial and emerging farmers. Through training, mentoring and commercial support, Soufflet Malt is helping South African farmers adopt best-practice agronomy to produce high-quality, premium barley at scale.
The project supports HEINEKEN’s global Brew a Better World 2030 ambitions, particularly in the areas of sustainable sourcing and local supply chain development.
Jordi Borrut, Managing Director of HEINEKEN Beverages, said: “This malthouse is a clear demonstration of our Brew a Better World ambitions in action, in South Africa. By sourcing barley locally and producing malt alongside our brewery, we reduce imports, lower transport emissions and build a more resilient, lower-carbon supply chain. Crucially, this investment supports South African farmers, strengthens local agriculture and contributes to long-term economic growth, ensuring our success is firmly rooted in the communities and country we operate in.”
Strategic partnership
For Managing Director for Soufflet Malt South Africa, Jeremy Antier, the groundbreaking reflects the power of long-term partnership:
“This project reflects the strength of the French–South African business relationship. With the support of the French Embassy, the French South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the South African local, provincial and national governments the IDC and our long-standing partner HEINEKEN Beverages, we have been able to bring together industrial expertise, agricultural development and sustainable innovation in a way that benefits both economies. It is a powerful example of partnership translating into long-term investment and shared growth.”
Disclaimer:
This article is an external contribution and was not produced by the French South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FSACCI). The views, opinions, and statements expressed are solely those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the views or positions of FSACCI.
