The SPAR Supplier Development Programme is helping small South African brands like Simply Deli access market opportunities, build capability and scale for long term growth

Behind every jar of marinade or bottle of cook-in sauce, there is often a story of resilience, reinvention and relentless passion. For Yolande Buckley, founder of Simply Deli, that story began decades ago in the kitchen and today, it is being shared with households across the country through SPAR shelves.

Simply Deli, a proudly South African brand that manufactures cook-in sauces and marinades, is one of the small businesses benefiting from the SPAR Supplier Development Programme, an initiative designed to help micro and small suppliers not just survive, but grow, scale and compete in the retail space.

For Buckley, the journey has been anything but ordinary.

While Buckley’s culinary journey began nearly 50 years ago, 2003 marked a defining chapter in her path as an entrepreneur. In a profound act of mentorship and belief in her potential, Buckley’s previous employer gifted her the entire Thanda Bantu Catering business. This wasn't merely a business transition; it was a transformative investment in her leadership, providing the essential platform for Buckley to build a catering legacy that would eventually evolve into the Simply Deli brand found in SPAR stores today.

“It was a moment of having to reinvent the wheel,” says Buckley. “Drawing on nearly five decades of experience, I began developing my own recipes in 2020 by refining flavours, perfecting techniques and reimagining how my food could reach people beyond the catering table. A year later in 2021, Simply Deli was born”.

What came next, however, is a challenge familiar to many small businesses, access to the market.

This is where SPAR stepped in.

Through its Supplier Development Programme, SPAR equips entrepreneurs like Buckley with practical tools and critical knowledge, from food safety compliance and certification to labelling and product testing. But perhaps the most transformative support is access to SPAR’s retail network, giving small brands a platform to showcase their products to a wider audience.

“For a growing brand such as ours, being associated with a retailer like SPAR is incredibly valuable,” Buckley explains. “It’s been a turning point in my journey. It’s helped me align Simply Deli with retail requirements and not just product quality, but consistency, packaging and scalability.”

SPAR’s approach is rooted in a simple but powerful principle of when small businesses grow, communities grow with them.

With small enterprises expected to generate up to 90% of the 11 million jobs projected by 2030 under the National Development Plan, supporting SMMEs is more than good business, it is an economic imperative.

“Entrepreneurship has the power to shift the dial on many of South Africa’s socio-economic challenges,” [SPAR Spokesperson]. “By equipping suppliers with the right tools and knowledge, we are helping them build sustainable businesses that can thrive within their communities.”

For consumers, this means more than just variety on the shelves. It means access to locally made, thoughtfully crafted products and the opportunity to support homegrown talent with every purchase.

For Simply Deli, the partnership is only just beginning. “Overall, it has changed how I approach my business from a retail perspective,” says Buckley. “It has positioned me to grow within the SPAR ecosystem and alongside other SPAR suppliers and retailers. The SPAR network is filled with the very best people doing some amazing things in their stores and their communities.”

As demand grows for convenient, high-quality cooking solutions, Simply Deli is ready. “We are committed to delivering products that help people create delicious meals quickly and easily, whether at home, on holiday or sharing time with family and friends,” concludes Buckley.

From making her own recipes in the kitchen to a brand on retail shelves, Buckley’s journey is a powerful reminder that with the right support, small businesses do not just survive but can flourish.

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