United States tariffs push R1 billion factory to shut down in South Africa

• The R1 billion Fruit Products Western Cape factory in South Africa will shut down due to declining global demand, pricing pressure, and rising input costs, with US tariffs being a contributing factor.
• The factory, established in the 1940s, had expanded under various owners, including Del Monte Fruits South Africa and Rhodes Food Group, before being acquired by Premier Foods earlier this year.
• Premier Foods has initiated a Section 189 consultation process with affected employees, with the company citing the business's economic unsustainability due to sustained market pressure and the need for greater scale in a competitive industry.