Lona Group processes various fruits, including lemons
Lona Group processes various fruits, including lemons
Cape Town, South Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa

Contributing to food security through responsible investment across the African food value chain

About Phatisa Food Fund

Phatisa Food Fund 2 (PFF2), managed by Phatisa, is a pan‑African private equity fund seeking to service the African consumer around a mandate to “feed Africa” with the expansion of local food production and distribution. PFF2 contributes to food security in Sub‑Saharan Africa by making responsible investments across the African food value chain, including in mechanization, inputs, poultry and meat production, food processing and manufacturing, logistics, aggregation and distribution across Sub‑Saharan Africa. FinDev Canada is investing in Phatisa Food Fund 2 which in turn invests in companies in the food value chain, like Lona Group.

FinDev Canada’s financial commitment: $10M

Learn more about Phatisa

About Lona Group

As one of the largest integrated fruit businesses in South Africa, the Lona Group is involved in activities across the food value chain, from: farming, aggregating and packing fruit (citrus, mango, grape, olives, and stonefruit), to: cold storage and logistics, marketing fruit for export and domestic consumption, plus fruit and vegetable. With line of sight across the entire value chain, Lona has tight controls, traceability, and renowned reliability amongst customers.

At Phatisa we are committed to the principle of “and” as opposed to “or”, (...) we don’t believe that financial performance and impact are mutually exclusive, rather we think of them as being mutually beneficial.”

Phatisa’s Impact

2,594
jobs supported
US$ 11M
Portfolio companies paid US$ 11M in tax revenue to local governments, supporting market development
1,287,986
Produced 1,287,986 tons of food and food related products
14,240
Reached 14,240 smallholder farmers and previously disadvantaged community stakeholders
8,929
smallholder farmers were trained on animal vaccination
3,044
farmers obtained financial benefits and enjoyed increased income of US$ 5.4M
80%
of the jobs supported by the fund paid above the living wage in each country of operation
47%
of all permanent employees in the fund portfolio are women
68%
women employees at Fund Manager level

Our investment in Phatisa Food Fund 2 supports the following SDGs:

SDG 2. Zero Hunger

End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture

SDG 5. Gender Equality

Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls

SDG 8. Decent Work and Economic Growth

Promote inclusive and sustainable economic growth, employment and decent work for all

SDG 13. Climate Action

Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts

Packing the oranges into crates
Packing the oranges into crates

Cape Town, South Africa

With a population of nearly 60 million1 and a GDP of 406 billion USD2, South Africa has a diverse agricultural economy, with over 96,000 hectares of agricultural land3, the most of any African country. Cape Town plays a pivotal economic role, contributing significantly to the country’s growth trajectory.

Map of South Africa
Oranges going down the conveyer
Oranges going down the conveyer
Lona Group exports products to over 50 countries
Lona Group exports products to over 50 countries
Meet the Photographer

Lauren Mulligan

Lauren Mulligan is a storyteller working in photography, illustration, and filmmaking. She is passionate about contributing to representations around LGBTQ+ narratives and marginalised cultural identities.

She’s worked on a series of brand campaigns and travel stories. She’s currently the Creative Director for London-based consultancy, Squad Sports Marketing and the co-creator of the FIFA+ travel log, Wrighty’s Diary, capturing Ian Wright’s journey throughout the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 in Australia and New Zealand.

Mulligan graduated with a degree in Fine Arts as well as a Masters in Film and Television from the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa.

It’s always refreshing when a project challenges your own limited perspective – not only did I not expect to see that the majority of the employees were women, but also the levels of trust and respect in the workplace. I have no doubt that life is not easy for these women, but there were often times when I’d be photographing something on the other side of the room and would hear bursts of laughter on the factory floor. So while work can be challenging and exhausting, it can also be a source of dignity and joy.”