SOUTH AFRICA – The South African packaged good company, Tiger Brands has told their shareholders that the opening of the Enterprise polony factory in Polokwane is set to be by the end of this year.
However, the group said though production at the site is expected to start by October 2018, its opening would depend on calculations of losses incurred as a result of the deadly listeriosis fright, according to Business Report.
Tiger Brands said that although no signs of listeria contamination have been shown by the testing done, the company waits three other months of testing at the facility together with checks on US$6.4 million worth of pork.
The company maintains they will use products, raw ingredients that they still have in storage including frozen pork, packaging and ingredients worth US$8.24 million.
In the half year earnings, US$29 million was reported in losses at the polony plant after it recalled cold meat products and eventual suspension of production at four of its manufacturing facilities.
The Listeriosis outbreak which has killed 200 people, started last year and was announced by Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi who linked Listeria ST6 strain to the Enterprise facility.
In a presentation to shareholders, Tiger Brands said they were working on rebuilding trust with their consumers before they begin selling polony again with initiatives focusing on securing sustainable food safety and better food hygiene and awareness.
It is also hard hit by a class action lawsuit that was filed by human rights advocate Richard Spoor on behalf of the families that the listeria outbreak had affected and recently it said it did not yet have details on the total amount of the claim.
Tiger Brands said they are addressing the legal claims around listeriosis sensitively and responsibly and that they want to respond with integrity, honesty and care.
